This multi will take you to two typical MK II 40 mm Bofors AA guns used by Canada during WW2. The Bofors 40 mm gun, often referred to simply as the Bofors gun, is an anti-aircraft/multi-purpose autocannon designed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors. It was one of the most popular medium-weight anti-aircraft systems during World War II, used by most of the western Allies as well as by the Axis powers. A small number of these weapons remain in service to this day, and saw action as late as the Gulf War.
40-mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun manned by 1st Canadian Division gunners.
The gun fired a 900 g (2.0 lb) high explosive 40 × 311R (rimmed) shell at 2,960 ft/s (900 m/s). The rate of fire was normally about 120 rounds per minute (2.0 rounds per second), which improved slightly when the barrels were closer to the horizontal as gravity assisted the feeding from the top-mounted magazine. In practice firing rates were closer to 80–100 rpm (1.3–1.7 rounds per second), as the rounds were fed into the breech from four round clips which had to be replaced by hand. The maximum attainable ceiling was 7,200 m (23,600 ft), but the practical maximum was about 3,800 m (12,500 ft).
Bofors also developed a towable carriage. This mount allowed the gun to be fired from the carriage with no setup required, although with limited accuracy. If time was available for setup, the gunners used the tow-bar and muzzle lock as levers, raising the wheels off the ground and thereby lowering the gun onto supporting pads. Two additional legs folded out to the sides, and the platform was then leveled with hand cranks. The entire setup process could be completed in under a minute.
Normally there would be a crew of six: Elevation Trainer & firer (on the left - when viewed from the breech looking down the barrel), Azimuth Trainer (on the right), 2 x Breech Loaders (who stood on the gun platform to re-load), 2 x Loaders who fed the Breech Loaders with spare Ammo clips, due to its high rate of fire. There would also be a Gun commander, who would also 'spot' for the targets, although the Bofors Gun could accept targeting information from a separate 'predictor' system.
By the end of World War II, the dawn of the jet age began and with the speed of jet aircraft, these auto cannons became obsolete. The Bofors simply could not put enough rounds into the air to counter the aircraft before it had already flown out of range. The Bofors design itself does soldier on today in faster, farther reaching, electric driven and radar controller systems.
Following the related link will show you a typical British propaganda film of the Bofors in action.
Being a multi, the cache is not located at the posted coordinates. To find the final you will have to acquire information from the Bofors gun and its sister. Using a little math to help you find the sister and then a little more math to project your way to the final.
When you arrive at the first stage, locate the small manufacturing plate located on the towing arm on the base of the gun. Make sure you grab the information from this location as there are a number of manufacturing plates and numbers all over the gun. The numbers don't match being that the cannons are made up of parts of other guns. Record the date of manufacture and the 5 digit serial number.
Manufacturing date = _ _ _ _
Serial # = P - _ _ _ _ _
Time to find the sister!
Take the first number from the serial number and the last number from the manufacturing date (in that order) to create a two digit number. Multiply this new number by 3. Multiply the product by 2. Multiply this product by 6. Divide the last product by 1000 and subtract your answer from the posted north coordinates.
Next take the second number from the serial number and multiply it by 5. Multiply the product by 2. Multiply this product by 4. Divide the last product by 1000 and subtract your answer from the posted west coordinates.
**Now if you know where the second sister is located, you don't have to do all this funky math but don't forget to grab the date and serial number from the first stage. You might need it!**
When you arrive at the sister, again locate the small manufacturing plate located on the towing arm on the base of the Bofors Gun.
Record the date of manufacture and the 5 digit serial number.
Manufacturing date = _ _ _ _
Serial # = P - _ _ _ _ _
Onward to the final!
Take the two 5 digit serial numbers from each AA gun and add them together. Next add the single digits of your answer together to give you a two digit number. This will be your bearing in degrees, True North.
Next take the two 4 digit manufacturing dates and multiply them together. Using only the last 4 digits of your answer, multiply these 4 single digits together. This will be your projection distance in meters.
Now project your way to that point and find that cache!
Be Stealthy in your search!
As always, bring your own pen!
Keep your logs clean. No spoilers please!