Name: Ammunition for 57 mm L/70 Bofors guns 57 mm HCER-BB
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South-eastern Asia

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<h2>Armament</h2><p>Bofors SAK 57 L/70 Mk 1; Bofors SAK 57 L/70 Mk 2; Bofors SAK 57 L/70 Mk 3.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The first Bofors 57 mm automatic naval gun was an L/60 gun developed during the 1920s. Development of a longer L/70 version began in 1964, leading to the Bofors SAK 57 L/70 Mk 1 which entered service in mid-1966. A more advanced version, the 57 mm L/70 Mk 2, using a lightweight mounting and with the capability to be effective against sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, appeared in prototype form in 1981. The first example of the 57 mm L/70 Mk 2 entered service in 1985, together with a new family of operational and training ammunition, enabling the gun to carry out the anti-ship missile defence role. About 25 57 mm L/70 Mk 2 guns were produced. Most of the rounds fired from the 57 mm L/70 Mk 2 gun can be used with the L/70 Mk 1, in some cases after a minor modification has been incorporated. The 57 mm L/70 Mk 3 ordnance is identical to the 57 mm L/70 Mk 2 but the mounting incorporates state-of-the-art `stealth' technology for the mounting on which the gun remains hidden until exposed for firing. There are two new rounds, the 57 mm 3P and HCER-BB (see below), under development for this gun. 5,000 rounds of the 3P round are scheduled for delivery to the Swedish Defence Matèriel Administration (FMV) during 2001. The order, announced during April 1998, includes options for further quantities. These rounds are primarily for use with Bofors 57 mm Mk 3 guns on `Visby' class corvettes. Bofors Explosives has developed Low Vulnerability Ammunition (LOVA, also known as Insensitive Munitions or IM), which includes LOVA propellant and insensitive components such as igniters and boosters. These can be applied to all 57 mm L/70 rounds in production with a view to rendering them even more invulnerable to shock and high temperatures. The US Coast Guard has expressed an interest in procuring a 57 mm naval gun system. From the outlined requirement statement it appears that the 57 mm L/70 Bofors naval gun is likely to be the only candidate. A tank version of the 57 mm L/70 Bofors naval gun was developed during the late 1970s, along with an associated APDS round. Both appeared in prototype form only.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>All Bofors 57 mm L/70 rounds are fixed, with the projectiles rigidly crimped to the 437 mm long brass cartridge cases by two crimping rings engaging in two cannelures close to the projectiles' bases. Most rounds have conical or hemispherical base outlines to improve aerodynamics and to optimise the internal volume. Drive bands are copper and priming is electrical. Ammunition currently available includes the following: 57 mm PFHE This round is intended for use against air targets, including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. It uses a projectile with a prefragmented high-quality steel body fitted with a proximity fuze. The fuze operates on the Doppler principle and includes the same electronics used in the proximity fuze fitted to the 40 mm L/70 PFHE Mk 2 round (qv), thus providing increased triggering distances and increased resistance to ECM. When the fuze functions, either as a proximity fuze or on impact, the projectile body detonates to produce approximately 3,500 fragments, 1,200 of which are integral 3 mm tungsten pellets with high penetration capabilities. The pellets are carried around the inner wall of the projectile body, packed around the filling which is 380 g of Hexotonal. The fuze triggering distance is 7 m against aircraft or helicopters at an altitude of 40 m or more, and up to 4.5 m against small missiles. Against targets at lower altitudes an automatic sensitivity control in the fuze reduces the sensitivity level, so when firing against a target flying at 5 m altitude the triggering distance is up to 3 m. If required, the proximity fuze can be used against surface targets by disconnecting the proximity function, therefore converting the fuze to a point-detonating type. When used in the proximity mode the fuze also has an integral point-detonating function. In either case the fuze will initiate a self-destruct function after approximately 17 seconds. A complete 57 mm L/70 PFHE round weighs 6.1 kg, 2.4 kg of which is the projectile. Muzzle velocity is 1,020 m/s. The maximum effective range, when used in the proximity fuze mode, is 7,500 to 7,600 m, while maximum possible range in the point detonating mode is 13,200 m. TDA of France produce a multimode proximity fuze, the 57 MM, for 57 mm L/70 projectiles. For training with 57 mm L/70 PFHE rounds and other purposes, a special 57 mm Target Practice Proximity fuzed (TPPX) round is produced. This round is ballistically matched to the 57 mm L/70 PFHE but the filling is restricted to a 65 g charge of Hexotol, sufficient to provide a visual burst indication of the proximity fuze functioning. As an alternative, an inert 57 mm L/70 TP round may be used. 57 mm 3P The 57 mm 3P round is a scaled-up version of the 40 mm 3P programmable round employed on TRINITY and suitably modified 40 mm L/70 air defence guns (qv). The 3P (Prefragmented, Programmable, Proximity-fuzed) projectile weighs 2.4 kg and carries 460 g of Octonal surrounded by approximately 2,400 3 mm diameter tungsten carbide pellets. The nose-mounted fuze can be programmed to provide six fuze modes on this round. By means of a Proximity Fuze Programmer (PFP), connected to a gun fire-control computer, 3P fuzes can be individually programmed as they are fed into the gun chamber. Programming is carried out in two steps. In the first, a DC voltage is transmitted to the fuze to initiate its electronics and to make an initial selection of the required mode. In the second step, taken only milliseconds before firing, a high-frequency data message containing additional mode information and predicted time of flight to the target is transmitted to the fuze. The following modes can be selected: Auto mode 1. Range gated proximity function with impact function and self-destruct at the end of the gate Auto mode 2. Range gated proximity function with impact priority and self-destruct at the end of the gate Time mode. Accurate time function Impact mode. Impact function with post-impact delay (0.3 ms) and self-destruct after about 15 seconds Armour mode. Armour-piercing function Proximity mode. Normal proximity function with impact function and self-destruct. In the Auto modes, the range to the predicted future point of the target is transmitted to the 3P fuze and the fuze ignores all signals until it comes to the gate. This provides immunity against Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) and natural disturbances outside the absolute proximity of the fuze. In Auto mode 2, the proximity function is delayed to give priority to a possible impact function. As the 3P fuze ignores all signals outside the range gate the sensitivity of the fuze is increased to up to 10 m against aircraft and helicopters and 5 m against missiles. This increased sensitivity together with the increased number of fragments and 3 mm diameter tungsten carbide pellets greatly increases the kill effect against all types of aerial target. The time function causes the 3P fuze to act as a normal time fuze. The accuracy of the time setting is less than 0.5 per cent of the time of flight and typically 0.2 per cent. For a typical example, the clock's accuracy (together with the deviation in muzzle velocity) gives a dispersion of 7 m at a range of 1,500 m. The Impact mode is selected when a high-hit probability is expected. There is a 0.3 ms post impact delay permitting the projectile to penetrate the target before detonating. In the Armour mode the safety/arming device is prevented from arming, so that on impact with a hard target the 3P projectile will shock ignite with a delayed low order detonation. The fuze will operate on targets such as a 2 mm dural plate. When no mode selection is made or the range to a target is not known, the 3P fuze will operate as a conventional proximity fuze with an impact function. The 3P fuze has two major parts, an electronics unit and a pyromechanical safety and arming section. The electronics unit contains a clock, central processor unit for programming the fuze, a signal processor, the ECCM circuits and triggering circuits including the impact function devices. The safety and arming device is controlled by the integral clock. About 200 ms after firing (about 200 m from the muzzle) the clock ignites an electric detonator which, together with the spin, arms the safety and arming device; the device also contains mechanical devices for transport and bore safety. The 3P Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler fuze is powered by a battery initiated by setback. Full power is established after a few milliseconds, after which the fuze starts to emit, using the shell as an antenna. As the 3P fuze functions the 460 g Octonal filling produces a powerful blast effect. Fragments, including the 2,400 tungsten carbide pellets, will travel outwards at velocities as high as 1,500 m/s. Due to their shape and mass the pellets will be able to cause significant component damage on targets several metres away. With the 57 mm 3P projectile some of the pellets are arranged behind the ogive and are thus distributed over a wider area than 57 mm L/70 PFHE projectiles. 57 mm HCER The 57 mm L/70 High Capacity Extended Range (HCER) round is in production for use against a variety of naval targets. The projectile has a streamlined outline with a hemispherical base, providing a good aerodynamic outline and a maximum range of 17,000 m. The special steel projectile weighs 6.5 kg and contains 410 g of Octonal. The nose of the projectile is occupied by a point detonating fuze with a post-impact delay of 5 ms to provide maximum behind-armour effects, even against targets protected by up to 15 mm of armour. Muzzle velocity is 950 m/s. The 57 mm L/70 HCER round was designed for use in the SAK 57 L/70 Mk 2 naval gun but it can be fired from the Mk 1 gun after a minor modification has been incorporated. It may also be fired from the 57 mm L/70 Mk 3 naval gun. For training purposes a special 57 mm L/70 Target Practice Extended Range (TPER) is produced with the same ballistic characteristics as the 57 mm L/70 HCER round. It has no filling and is fitted with a dummy fuze. 57 mm HCER-BB Still under development, this round may be used with both the 57 mm L/70 Mk 2 and Mk 3 naval guns. A complete projectile weighs 2.85 kg, of which 310 g is the Octonal explosive filling. The muzzle velocity will be 950 m/s and maximum range 21,000 m. An impact fuze with an optional post-impact delay function is provided. Advantages claimed for this round include low dispersion, an extremely short time of flight, a flatter trajectory giving a large `danger zone', and reduced influence from atmospherics. Test firings have been made but type classification is still `some time off'. 57 mm HE This is a general purpose round with a projectile machined from bars of special steel. The explosive filling is 450 g of Hexotonal, detonated by a point detonating fuze with no delay element; the fuze is armed approximately 70 m from the gun muzzle. Weight of propellant is 1.126 kg. Proximity fuzes may be employed if required ( TDA of France produces a multimode proximity fuze, the 57 MM, for 57 mm L/70 projectiles). Muzzle velocity is 1,020 m/s and maximum range 13,800 m. For training purposes an inert 57 mm L/70 TP round is produced with the same ballistic characteristics as the 57 mm L/70 HE round. It has no filling and is fitted with a nose plug in place of a fuze.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>See text FINLAND</p><p>FINLAND</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Sako Limited</p><p>Type: 57 mm × 438 TP</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p><p>MALAYSIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd</p><p>Type: 57 mm L/70 TP LAP 3 Description: Standard specifications NORWAY</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Nammo Raufoss AS</p><p>Type: 57 mm PFHE, 3P, HCER, HCER-BB, HE</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p>

The Ammunition for 57 mm L/70 Bofors guns 57 mm HCER-BB is all Bofors 57 mm L/70 rounds are fixed, with the projectiles rigidly crimped to the 437 mm long brass cartridge cases by two crimping rings engaging in two cannelures close to the projectiles' bases. Most rounds have conical or hemispherical base outlines to improve aerodynamics and to optimise the internal volume. Drive bands are copper and priming is electrical. Ammunition currently available includes the following: 57 mm PFHE This round is intended for use against air targets, including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. It uses a projectile with a prefragmented high-quality steel body fitted with a proximity fuze. The fuze operates on the Doppler principle and includes the same electronics used in the proximity fuze fitted to the 40 mm L/70 PFHE Mk 2 round (qv), thus providing increased triggering distances and increased resistance to ECM. When the fuze functions, either as a proximity fuze or on impact, the projectile body detonates to produce approximately 3,500 fragments, 1,200 of which are integral 3 mm tungsten pellets with high penetration capabilities. The pellets are carried around the inner wall of the projectile body, packed around the filling which is 380 g of Hexotonal.

This increased sensitivity together with the increased number of fragments and 3 mm diameter tungsten carbide pellets greatly increases the kill effect against all types of aerial target. The time function causes the 3P fuze to act as a normal time fuze. The accuracy of the time setting is less than 0.5 per cent of the time of flight and typically 0.2 per cent. For a typical example, the clock's accuracy (together with the deviation in muzzle velocity) gives a dispersion of 7 m at a range of 1,500 m. The Impact mode is selected when a high-hit probability is expected. There is a 0.3 ms post impact delay permitting the projectile to penetrate the target before detonating. In the Armour mode the safety/arming device is prevented from arming, so that on impact with a hard target the 3P projectile will shock ignite with a delayed low order detonation. The fuze will operate on targets such as a 2 mm dural plate. When no mode selection is made or the range to a target is not known, the 3P fuze will operate as a conventional proximity fuze with an impact function.

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Ammunition for 57 mm L/70 Bofors guns 57 mm HCER-BB

Ammunition for 57 mm L/70 Bofors guns 57 mm HCER-BB

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