3.7-inch Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun, Swansea

The 3.7-inch Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun in Swansea, situated next to the Tawe Bridge, serves as a solemn memorial to commemorate the victims of German air raids during World War II. This particular type of anti-aircraft gun, designed and produced in 1937, was a significant part of Britain’s defense strategy during the war.

The QF 3.7-inch AA Gun was the British Army’s primary heavy anti-aircraft weapon throughout World War II. Comparable to the German Flak 8.8 cm and the American 90 mm gun, it featured a slightly larger caliber of 3.7 inches (94 mm). A brand-new unit of this gun typically weighed 9,317 kg, suggesting that the Swansea memorial’s piece shares a similar weight.

During its operational period, the gun was used across multiple theatres of war, except for the Eastern Front, and remained in service until the advent of guided missiles in 1957. Two versions of the gun were produced-one mobile and the other fixed. The mobile version utilized a wheeled carriage for field operations, while the fixed version was mounted on a pedestal for use in static positions, allowing for more powerful ammunition and enhanced performance.

The 3.7-inch AA gun was developed to replace Britain’s World War I QF 3-inch 20 cwt gun. Improved to counter new aerial threats, it came in various marks and mounts. In static setups like those in Swansea, it was often placed on a concrete platform or temporary structures for quick redeployment, adding versatility to its anti-aircraft capabilities.

The Swansea memorial not only stands as a reminder of the technological advancements in military artillery but also as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the air raids that targeted the city and its surroundings during the war.