40 mm-Bofors Anti-aircraft Gun - 1942

This 40-mm Bofors Anti-aircraft Gun (manufactured in 1942 by "M & A") is situated outside the Waitara District Service and Citizen's Club, Queen Street, Waitara.

Details on Barrel Plate:

QF 40mm Mk N1

Breech Casing No L13653

M & A 1942

Details on Base Plate:

MTG 40mm AA Mk III

M & A 1941

RegD No L/2631

L/2631 is dated 1941)

This gun was one of a pair fitted to the frigate, HMNZS Pukaki in 1948. Pukaki served in Korea and a number of patrols/tours  of South-east Asia including Hong Kong and Singapore. The gun was removed from Pukaki in 1953 and was then used for training ashore until 1991. It was mounted outside the WDS&C Clubrooms in 1995.

The gun was restored by Q Tarnsport, Tenix Engineering & Katere Coatings  in 2010.

The manufacturer, 'M & A,' is Nuffield Mechanisation & Aero of the UK who made Bofors guns and Crusader tanks during WWII.

Further Reading

Cooke, Peter & Ian Maxwell, Great Guns,The Artillery Heritage of NZ, 2013.