MALTA ARMED FORCES - PASSOUT PARADE

[Gil Boyd]

I can only speak for myself and what I saw when I lived there in the sixties.
The gun ALWAYS being towed around by the AEC Matador was the Bristol Bofors guns as per the picture. All in sand colour. I know as Peter said they did a stint at Dortmund BAOR and raised a few eye brows as most of their kit was 10 years behind the times, but very much operational and in good capable hands.
The guns on the parade square look heavier agreed, but still think they look British.

[browningautorifle]

This should help, they're 3.7 heavy AA guns. Apparently museum pieces. Read on... Times of Malta The Busbesija secret

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
Thanks for that. Knew we would get there eventually.
Ta-Qali Airfield was a secondary runway near Mosta Town where a 500Ib bomb still sits on full public display where it landed through the church dome on the floor.

Many AA units operated around Mosta and Mdina as clear line of site compared to operating with limited view in and around the walled City of Valetta on one side of the harbour, and St Angelo the other side where the Royal Navy were based.

Albeit, many AA gun emplacements can still be found on the walls today erected by the Knights of St John's & Templars and have stood the test of time and against many invaders.
Great island steeped in history and very pro British even now.

[Peter Laidler]

The 40/70 guns referred to in thread 21 were the 60's L7 automatic/upgraded 40mm Bofors that were joystick controlled and radar guided* for azimuth and height.
*archaic radar control it has to be said!

The guns subject to the original Q must be 3.7's less their wheel/transport platforms. It looked to me as though they had trails fitted - as per the old 5.5" heavy guns. but I can't get anything to come up with your prompt BAR.

[browningautorifle]

I can't get anything to come up with your prompt BAR.

K, let's do this then. Also the stolen text as quoted..." The emplacements are safe for the time being and the four 3.7-inch guns held by the AFM at Luqa Barracks would be a perfect fit .The guns were kindly donated by Stan Fraser who had served in HAA in Malta during the siege; he had found them in a UK scrapyard."

So, they're actually what we called 3" 70's... If you hunt up Luqa Barracks on Google earth you see the guns. Also there's the text package showing the museum and the 500lb bomb referred to.

[Flying10uk]

So would I be correct in thinking that this type of heavy AA gun would normally be placed onto a thick circular concrete base? In more recent years I have noticed one or two such circular concrete bases where I suspect there could have been an AA emplacement during WW2.

[Paul S.]

So would I be correct in thinking that this type of heavy AA gun would normally be placed onto a thick circular concrete base? In more recent years I have noticed one or two such circular concrete bases where I suspect there could have been an AA emplacement during WW2.

You are correct when the gun was in a 'fixed' or long term placement. More mobile guns - those that moved with the troops, i.e. during the Desert Campaign, etc. basically set up where needed.

[gsimmons]

[Peter Laidler]

Oddly, they don't look like the 3.7" AA gun on the sea front at Southsea............

[gsimmons]

The caption on the phot, said;
British troops training. Firing with a 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun. Probably late 1940.
Of course that doesn't make it correct.