40mm AA question

[Wolfala]

I was reading up on the Tony Williams site that the 40mm has the option of having a VT fuse fitted to it. Was this a post WW2 development or was it available during WW2?

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Bofors.htm

[Tony Williams]

It was introduced in the 1970s.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website

[Cthulhu]

It was introduced in the 1970s.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website

Tony, wasn't this first done on the old DIVAD program? I seem to recall seeing some inert 40mm VT fuses on a guy's desk at work (LTV back then) back in the 80's. Nobody here remembers if we were subcontracted to Ford on that program or not. And frankly if we were, I can see why noone would want to own up to it. What a disaster.

[Wolfala]

Tony, wasn't this first done on the old DIVAD program? I seem to recall seeing some inert 40mm VT fuses on a guy's desk at work (LTV back then) back in the 80's. Nobody here remembers if we were subcontracted to Ford on that program or not. And frankly if we were, I can see why noone would want to own up to it. What a disaster.

Interesting history.

"In February 1982 the prototype was demonstrated for a group of US and British officers at Fort Bliss, along with members of Congress and other VIPs. When the computer was activated, it immediately started aiming the guns at the review stands, causing several minor injuries as members of the group jumped for cover. Technicians worked on the problem, and the system was restarted. This time it started shooting towards the target, but fired into the ground 300 m in front of the tank. In spite of several attempts to get it working properly, the vehicle never successfully engaged the sample targets. A Ford manager claimed that the problems were due to the vehicle being washed for the demonstration and fouling the electronics.[13] In a report on the test, Easterbrook jokingly wondered if it ever rained in central Europe.[10"

[Cthulhu]

Interesting history.

"In February 1982 the prototype was demonstrated for a group of US and British officers at Fort Bliss, along with members of Congress and other VIPs. When the computer was activated, it immediately started aiming the guns at the review stands, causing several minor injuries as members of the group jumped for cover. Technicians worked on the problem, and the system was restarted. This time it started shooting towards the target, but fired into the ground 300 m in front of the tank. In spite of several attempts to get it working properly, the vehicle never successfully engaged the sample targets. A Ford manager claimed that the problems were due to the vehicle being washed for the demonstration and fouling the electronics.[13] In a report on the test, Easterbrook jokingly wondered if it ever rained in central Europe.[10"

Yeah, that's the one thing I remember most about the Sgt York program.  The thought of high-level brass, politicians, and company executives bailing terrified out of the stands always cracked me up.

[Tony Williams]

Tony, wasn't this first done on the old DIVAD program? I seem to recall seeing some inert 40mm VT fuses on a guy's desk at work (LTV back then) back in the 80's. Nobody here remembers if we were subcontracted to Ford on that program or not. And frankly if we were, I can see why noone would want to own up to it. What a disaster.

According to Jane's Ammunition Handbook, the first 40mm Bofors proximity-fuzed ammunition was the PFHE (Pre-Fragmented High Explosive) introduced in 1975 as a part of the Bofi system. The Mk II version came out in 1983.

I do know that prox-fused 35mm ammunition was developed for DIVAD for the Oerlikon guns chosen by a couple of the competitors. This was apparently a US Army requirement, in opposition to Oerlikon's recommendations - they felt that the calibre was too small for prox fusing to be worthwhile, and have since introduced the time-fuzed AHEAD shrapnel ammo for the gun.

With the benefit of hindsight, since the US Army wanted a system in service as a matter of great urgency, the only sensible option would have been to buy the existing German Gepard turret (2x35mm) and drop it on a US chassis. But that was too obvious...

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website

[Cthulhu]

According to Jane's Ammunition Handbook, the first 40mm Bofors proximity-fuzed ammunition was the PFHE (Pre-Fragmented High Explosive) introduced in 1975 as a part of the Bofi system. The Mk II version came out in 1983.

I do know that prox-fused 35mm ammunition was developed for DIVAD for the Oerlikon guns chosen by a couple of the competitors. This was apparently a US Army requirement, in opposition to Oerlikon's recommendations - they felt that the calibre was too small for prox fusing to be worthwhile, and have since introduced the time-fuzed AHEAD shrapnel ammo for the gun.

With the benefit of hindsight, since the US Army wanted a system in service as a matter of great urgency, the only sensible option would have been to buy the existing German Gepard turret (2x35mm) and drop it on a US chassis. But that was too obvious...

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website

Agreed, the proven 35mm Oerlikon system would have made a lot more sense. But from what I've read, Ford was already in bed with Bofors, so the 40mm system was gonna happen no matter what, reliability and effectiveness be damned.