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I have can marked 40mm Mk1 mod8
- Thread starter USGI_45
- Start date
It is the waterproof ammo can for the 4-round clips of ammo that are fired by the Bofors L/60 40mm automatic gun. These were used in dual and quad mounts on the U.S. Navy ships, in dual mounts on the M48 tank chassis known as the duster, and most recently in current use on the C-130 Spectre Gunship with the Air Force. They actually had these guns in a quad mount gun tub that was mounted on the roof of the 16 inch gun turrets on the U.S. Battleships in WWII.
Since the Navy was the biggest user of this ammo, that is why your box was originally gray.
Info on the gun:
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12.htm
Since the Navy was the biggest user of this ammo, that is why your box was originally gray.
Info on the gun:
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12.htm
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The angle of that pic is deceptive, but excellent nonetheless. The Quad 40mm mounts weren't actually on the roof of the 16in turrets of the "BB" Battleships. They were mounted on a balcony above the turrets in front of the bridge.They actually had these guns in a quad mount gun tub that was mounted on the roof of the 16 inch gun turrets on the U.S. Battleships in WWII.
Since the Navy was the biggest user of this ammo, that is why your box was originally gray.
And while Navy may have been the biggest US user of the 40mm AA, in Commonwealth Service, that distinction may have gone to the Army. But the 40mm was widely fitted to Commonwealth naval ships also, with the last L/60 Bofors being withdrawn from Royal Australian Navy service in 1997! Australian versions of this can have been seen either painted with an aluminium paint or galvanised.
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I'm sorry I wasn't specific enough in my narrative regarding the mounting of 40mm quad mounts to the roof of 16 inch turrets on U.S. Battleships. I have attached photos of the Missouri. All of the ships in a class are not the same, the Missouri being one of four in the Iowa class, which was the newest and most advanced class to be built. The older classes of battleships might not have 40mm mounts on the 16 inch or 14 inch turrets, and all of the Iowa class might not have the mounts located there.
All of the photos attached clearly show the 40mm quad mount firmly mounted at the back of turrets 2 and 3, on the roof of the turrets. When the turrets rotate, the quad mounts are still at the back of the turret. Photo 3 shows turret 2 rotated pointing back to port. Photo 4 shows turret 3 pointing to port.
All of the photos attached clearly show the 40mm quad mount firmly mounted at the back of turrets 2 and 3, on the roof of the turrets. When the turrets rotate, the quad mounts are still at the back of the turret. Photo 3 shows turret 2 rotated pointing back to port. Photo 4 shows turret 3 pointing to port.
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Thanks much for the replies. Im not really a collector of these type of things so I was wondering if it has any historical value to people in this hobby? Reason I ask is because Ive thought about removing the brackets that are inside so I could just have a sturdy container to put tools and stuff in. But I dont want to be a "bubba" and ruin something that would go well in somebodies collection.