40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun, Longreach, Queensland, Australia - Military Ground Equipment Displays on Waymarking.com

The following information is taken from The Australian War Memorial in accordance with their guidelines.

Firing 40 mm calibre ammunition, the Swedish-designed Bofors gun was a fully automatic cannon intended primarily for use against aircraft. It was first fitted to Australian ships during the Second World War, quickly becoming standard for most ships. Some ships of the RAN may still be fitted with Bofors guns. In the Korean War, there was little call for the use of the Bofors, but with a range of over two kilometres it could also be used in shore bombardments. During her time as part of the Han River blockade, HMAS Murchison engaged enemy positions ashore on several occasions with her Bofors guns.

The Australian War Memorial page includes a photo of a test firing of Bofors guns aboard HMAS Sydney in Korean waters, and I have included the photo due to the significance of HMAS Sydney to me personally.

The following information is a brief summary taken from Wikipedia following their Re-use of text guidelines. I commend their pages for those interested in the history of this versatile artillery piece and one of the ships which carried it.

HMAS Sydney was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier, the first of three conventional aircraft carriers to serve in the RAN, and operated as the navy's flagship during the early part of her career. From late 1951 to early 1952, she operated off the coast of Korea during the Korean War, making her the first carrier owned by a Commonwealth Dominion, and the only carrier in the RAN, to see wartime service. Retasked as a training vessel following the 1955 arrival of her modernised sister ship, HMAS Melbourne, Sydney remained in service until 1958, when she was placed in reserve as surplus to requirements.

Sydney was initially armed with thirty Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns: eighteen single mountings and six twin mountings.

The need for a sealift capability saw the ship modified for service as a fast troop transport, and recommissioned in 1962. Sydney was initially used for training and a single supply run in support of Malaysia's defence policy against Indonesia, but in 1965, she sailed on the first voyage to Vung Tàu, transporting soldiers and equipment to serve in the Vietnam War. 25 voyages to Vietnam were made between 1965 and 1972, earning the ship the nickname "Vung Tau Ferry".

During her refit as a troop transport, the carrier's armament was reduced to four single Bofors.

I personally "Embarked For Service South Vietnam" on board HMAS Sydney, departing on 16 February 1970 on what I believe was Voyage 22 or perhaps Voyage 23. Sydney never berthed in Vung Tau, and we disembarked by one of the ship's LCMP (Landing Craft Medium Personnel). Other battalions were fortunate enough to be lifted off by helicopter on their arrival.

Subsequently in late 1972 I acted as Platoon Sergeant for a composite Army group of 60 personnel on board HMAS Sydney during her last voyage of almost three months, and one of my favourite spots for a break was the Starboard After Gun Sponson.

Sadly Gough Whitlam had her decomissioned as one of his first actions on gaining the office of Prime Minister of Australia - the election was held when HMAS Sydney was about two days from docking in Hong Kong, and all our votes, despatched to Australia by Diplomatic Bag, went astray. They accepted my excuse and I didn't have to pay the fine (voting is COMPULSORY in Australia).

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