| Bofors 120 mm Automatic Gun L/46 | |
| Type: | Anti-aircraft autocannon |
| Origin: | Sweden |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Is Artillery: | Yes |
| Service: | 1968–present |
| Used By: | FAK 120 TAK 120 |
| Designer: | AB Bofors |
| Design Date: | 1963–1967 |
| Manufacturer: | AB Bofors |
| Number: | FAK 120: 1 built TAK 120: 6 built |
| Variants: | FAK 120 TAK 120 |
| Mass: | FAK 120: TAK 120: |
| Part Length: | (with breech) |
| Height: | FAK 120 height of fire: |
| Cartridge: | 120 × 615 mm R Bofors |
| Cartridge Weight: | Complete cartridge: High-Explosive shell: Explosive charge: Propellant charge: |
| Caliber: | 120 mm |
| Barrels: | 1 × liquid-cooled |
| Rate: | 75–80 rounds/min |
| Range: | 08.0 seconds to 5,000 m 21.7 seconds to 10,000 m |
| Max Range: | 18,500 m at 45° |
| Feed: | 52 rounds in feed system |
| Recoil: | nominal |
| Elevation: | FAK 120: -5°/+85°, 25°/s TAK 120: -10°/+80°, 32°/s, acc 40°/s squared |
| Traverse: | FAK 120: 360°, 32°/s TAK 120: 360°, 40°/s, acc 50°/s squared |
| Ref: | navweaps.com,[1] tdf.chalmers.se,[2] fromtheswedisharchives.wordpress.com[3] |
Bofors 120 mm Automatic Gun L/46,[4] most commonly referred to as either Bofors FAK 120 or Bofors TAK 120 depending on the configuration (field gun vs naval gun), was a Swedish liquid-cooled single-barreled 120mm caliber long-range anti-aircraft autocannon designed by Bofors during the 1950s for indigenous use and export.[2] [4]
It was produced in two different variants during the 1950s and 1960s respectively, a field variant[4] and a naval variant,[1] and the latter still being in service today with the Indonesian Navy.[1]
The Bofors 120 mm Automatic Gun L/46 was throughout its product life produced in two different main-variants, a field version named FAK 120 and a naval version named TAK 120.
The,[3] also sold under the name,[4] but most commonly known as the FAK 120,[3] was the initial variant of the Bofors 120 mm Automatic Gun L/46.[3] During development it was initially known as the, were "FAK" means Field Automatic Gun (Swedish: fältautomatkanon), "120" being the caliber (120 mm) and "X 53" meaning model of 1953.[3] It was developed during the 1950's to meet a request from the Swedish Army for a new long range anti-aircraft gun capable of engaging aircraft at high altitude with a high rate of fire. This request lead to a 120mm caliber fully automatic medium-high velocity gun with a high capacity magazine and a high rate of fire, mounted on a field carriage.[3]
The initial plan was to acquire 6 guns for trial, only one prototype was produced.[3] The prototype was designated 12 cm luftvärnsautomatkanon försöksmodell 1 (12 cm lvakan fm 1), meaning 12 cm automatic anti-aircraft gun trial-model 1.[3] During trials the gun showed great performance but the advent of anti-aircraft missiles at the end of the 1950s meant that the project was a dead end and no more guns were ordered. Despite this the prototype was put into service as the 12 cm luftvärnsautomatkanon 4501 (12 cm lvakan 4501) and would see service with the Swedish air defense from 1960 to 1973 before being retired.[3]
The field mount was designed to be converted to a trailer by connecting a back and front part equipped with wheels and truck mount respectively. The wheel base was and the wheel track was . Ground clearance was .[3]
The,[1] most commonly known as the TAK 120, was a 1960s navalized version of the Bofors FAK 120 field gun design from 1953.[2] The name TAK 120 means Turret Automatic Gun 120 mm (Swedish: Tornautomatkanon 120 mm).[1]
The Bofors TAK 120 was a private export venture to quickly develop a modern gun system intended for large Fast Attack Craft (FAC).[1] To achieve this Bofors decided to simply do a navalized version of their 120 mm Automatic Field Gun L/46 (FAK 120).[2] As part of the navalization process, the TAK 120 gun was fitted into an enclosed gun turret, replacing the more open oscillating system used on the FAK 120 field gun. Due to the enclosed turret, the magazine capacity was slightly decreased.[2] The elevation mechanism was also shifted by 5° degrees downwards to increase the maximum gun depression from -5°[4] to -10°,[1] but at the cost of maximum elevation, going from +85°[4] to +80°.[1]
The Bofors TAK 120 never saw massive success on the export market but was exported to both the Finnish Navy and Indonesian Navy and it is still in service today with the latter.[1]