57mm Bofors SAK-57
USA: Mk 110
Overview
57mm Mk 110
US Navy 57mm Mk 110 being fired on a Freedom class littoral combat ship in 2010.
Source: US Navy -
© Public domain
1985 (Mark 2)
1998 (Mark 3)
1977 - 1982 (Mark 2)
1991 - Late 1990's (Mark 3)
1985 - 2000's? (Mark 2)
Late 1990's - Present (Mark 3)
United States - BAE Systems
25 Mark 2
Swedish for "naval automatic gun 57mm"
Mk 110 Mod 0 (US Navy)
Variants
57mm SAK-57 Mark 1
First iteration of the 57mm Bofors L/70 gun turret as introduced in 1966. Easily identified by the more squared housing with large local control window. Often fitted with rails for flares on either side of the turret. The Mark 1 has a total of 168 rounds in the turret, with more stowed below deck.
57mm SAK-57 Mark 2
Improved 57mm L/70 gun mount that introduced the lower RCS plastic housing. Rate of fire has been increased to 220 rpm, even though water cooling was omitted. Turret weight has been further reduced with smaller ammunition stowage in the turret, but adding intermediate magazines in the hoists to retain the volume of fire. A much improved stabilization system makes the Mark 2 more useful against inbound anti-ship missiles.
57mm SAK-57 Mark 3 (US Mk 110)
Updated Mark 2 turret for use with the programmable 3P ammunition. A muzzle velocity radar is mounted above the gun to adjust programming to the exact ballistic conditions when firing. Produced in the United States as the Mk 110.
57mm SAK-57 Mark 3 in stealth housing
Alternative turret cover design for the SAK-57 Mark 3. A more angular housing that stores the gun barrel in a downward position when the gun is not in use. This reduces the radar cross signature even further while not exposing the round barrel.
Details
Media
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 1
Forward view of 57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 1 naval gun being fired from a Spica II class fast attack craft in 1971.
Source: Gurun
Copyright: Public domain
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 3
Forward view of 57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 3 on a Finnish navy Hamina class missile boat in 2011. Note the muzzle velocity radar above the gun.
Source: MKFI
Copyright: Public domain
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 2
Canadian Halifax class frigate firing its 57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 2 naval gun.
Source: gurun
Copyright: Public domain
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 1
Forward view of 57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 1 naval gun on a Swedish museum vessel as seen in 2012.
Source: MKFI
Copyright: Public domain
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 2
Forward view of 57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 2 naval gun with flare launchers on a Malaysian navy Lekiu class frigate in 2022.
Source: Hiroki.loh.st
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Platforms
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 1
57mm Bofors SAK-57 Mark 2
Lekiu class
Malaysian class of frigate. Two ships in class. Single Mark 2 on bow with flares.
Related articles
57mm Bofors M1950
The Bofors SAK-57 is a further development of the earlier L/60 gun and ammunition as used in the very large twin barrel M1950 gun mount. The SAK-57 is much lighter with similar level of firepower for a shorter duration.