# Is Bofors 40mm AA gun a "suicide" weapon?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 13, 2018, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048 "2018-12-13T10:43:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048/21 "2018-12-16T00:51:47Z")

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> [@swampspruce](#):
>
> Almost any AA system is going to be very limited as to its effectiveness by itself. As part of a well designed Integrated Air Defence System something like a Bofors or even a ZSU23/4 could be used quite effectively to force aviation assets out of low level flying. As noted, sometimes just changing how and enemy operates in the airspace is enough.

What do some of the best designed IADS look like, now or in the near future?

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048/22 "2018-12-16T22:37:35Z")

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That’s a really complex question. It really comes down to the threat you think you’ll be protecting against. I’ll give you a rough example using Russian gear since that’s the most prolific. You want a whole lot of intersecting circles, so a battery or two of S-400 (SA-21) for stand off and long distance as well as forcing your enemy tankers and supports to stand off.  
Interleave them with medium range double digit SAMs like SA-11 or 17 to protect your Long distance SAM and radars. Mix in highly mobile SA-6, SA-8 or 17s with maybe Shilkas for protection from Attack helos or other attack aircraft and as Battalion assets. The most important thing is being able to co-ordinate that defence because isolated, any system is potentially vulnerable. Throw in MANPADs and things like the Bofors that are not radar reliant to increase your flexibility.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048/23 "2018-12-17T00:23:52Z")

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> [@MEBuckner](#):
>
> Boy, did I misinterpret the title of _this_ thread.
> 
> “Well, that would be awfully messy, wouldn’t it? Plus, the ergonomics just wouldn’t work–at the very least I think you’d have to have someone else pull the trigger for you–just look at the [size of the darned thing!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bofors_L60_IWM_England.jpg) All in all, if I were the coroner, I would be _very_ suspicious.”

ah sort of like the whole "13 knife wounds to the back, worse case of suicide I ever saw…’ 😛

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bofors-40mm-aa-gun-a-suicide-weapon/826048/24 "2018-12-17T03:52:53Z")

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> [@JakeRS](#):
>
> Is Bofors 40mm AA gun a “suicide” weapon?

It is if you fall asleep in a meeting with Kim Jong Un.

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