Bofors In the Desert

Flak, Volume 1, Issue 2, 1 April 1943, Page 3

Bofors In the Desert

Members of this regiment will probably be interested, to hear that Bofors guns formed part of the equipment of the famous Long Range Patrol unit in the Middle East. This unit, the personnel of which is almost entirely New Zealanders, was formed in July, 1940, shortly after the entry of Italy into the war. At that time British forces there were few and poorly- equipped, and Italy had a mighty and well-equipped army poised within striking distance of Britain’s priceless Sudan. The Long Range Patrol was formed to range the vast wastes of the Sand Sea to see if there were any signs of movement in its arid expanse. The unit was equipped on a lavish scale and operated under G.H.Q. directly. In the beginning the patrols were mounted on Chevrolet trucks. Armament included Lewis guns for protection against aircraft, and Boyes antitank rifles mounted on a bridge in the rear of the vericle with a special sight giving accuracy up to 1000 yards. The Vickers were mounted in the seat next to the driver arid could \ ■ 1

be swung anywhere round the vehicle on special swan-neck mountings. One Bofors gunper patrol was used. They were permanently mounted on a 30 cwt. chassis, and could be traversed to fire on both sides and the rear. They were handled by gunners from the New Zealand anti-tank battery raised in England, and according to the report of the commanding officer of the unit, did splendid service against enemy tanks.