Naval Systems

120 mm Bofors M1950

Also known as
  • Bofors 120 mm M1950
  • 120 mm/50 Model 1950
  • 120 mm/50 Mark 10
  • 120mm Mk 10
  • Bofors 120 mm Naval Automatic Gun L/50
  • Bofors 120mm Automatic Gun L/50 In Naval Twin Turret
  • Bofors 120 mm Automatic Gun L/50 in Naval Twin Turret
  • 12 cm automatkanon M/50
  • 12 cm akan M/50
  • 12 cm torndubbelautomatpjäs M/50
  • 12 cm tdblapjäs M/50
  • Bofors kanon van 12 cm
  • Bofors kanon van 12 cm nummer 10

The 120 mm Bofors M1950 was a Swedish twin-barrel automatic naval gun turret developed by Bofors for postwar destroyers and frigates. NavWeaps and Dutch Ministry material describe a high-rate pendulum-loader mounting used by Swedish, Dutch, Colombian, and Peruvian ships, with the Dutch Mark 10 installation serving from 1954 to 2001 and later reused on Tromp-class guided-weapon frigates.

120 mm Bofors M1950, Twin 120 mm/50 automatic dual-purpose naval gun turret, Naval Systems
Image source: Bofors 120 mm gun m 50.jpeg
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Sweden
Type
Twin 120 mm/50 automatic dual-purpose naval gun turret
Service note
Early Cold War naval gun introduced around 1950
Designer
Bofors
Designed
1944-1950
Produced
1950s; Dutch Mark 10 service ran from early 1954 to 2001
Number built
At least 24 twin turrets were built for Dutch Holland- and Friesland-class destroyers, with additional Swedish and Colombian installations reported in naval references

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm/50
Mount
Twin automatic naval turret
Role
Dual-purpose naval gun for surface and anti-aircraft fire
Service designations
Sweden: 120 mm/50 Model 1950; Netherlands: 120 mm/50 Mark 10
Rate of fire
Selectable between 12 and 42 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity
850 m/s
Maximum surface range
About 20,500 m with 23.5 kg HE shell at 45 degrees
Dutch maximum range
Netherlands Ministry of Defence technical data gives 18,000 m effective maximum and 21,600 m maximum firing distance
Anti-aircraft ceiling
About 9,000 m
Complete round weight
About 44.4-47 kg depending on source and service data
Ammunition feed
Dutch service article describes four interchangeable lifts and four interchangeable magazines, each magazine/lift set holding up to 27 rounds per gun
Elevation
-10 to +85 degrees
Elevation rate
40 degrees per second
Traverse
+140 to -140 degrees
Training rate
25 degrees per second
Loading system
Pendulum loader and flick rammer with water-cooled barrels in a common cradle
Turret weight
About 52,000 kg after later weight reductions
Dutch service weight
Netherlands Ministry of Defence gives about 60,000-70,000 kg during Dutch service, depending on modifications
Crew
12 crew in NavWeaps technical data; Dutch service practice identifies turret, lower-turret, lift, and magazine crews
Ship Installations

The reviewed sources document shipboard installations and service history for the M1950 rather than direct conflict employment by this exact turret. The strongest public evidence ties the gun to Swedish, Dutch, Colombian, and Peruvian ship classes.

Ship or classOperatorDocumented gun relationship
Halland classSwedenNavWeaps lists the Halland class with two twin M1950 turrets; the Smaland museum-ship association identifies HMS Smaland as a Halland-class destroyer with 2 x 2 12 cm automatkanon M/50 as main artillery.
Holland classNetherlandsDefensie.nl says the gun first served with Holland- and Friesland-class submarine-hunter destroyers, and NavWeaps lists Holland-class ships with two twin Mark 10 turrets.
Friesland classNetherlands / PeruDefensie.nl documents the Dutch Friesland-class installation. NavWeaps separately lists Peru's Colonel Bolognesi class as ex-Friesland ships carrying the same 120 mm/50 Model 1950 gun.
Tromp classNetherlandsDefensie.nl says the Tromp-class guided-missile frigates reused Bofors 12 cm guns from HNLMS Gelderland; NavWeaps likewise notes Tromp-class mounts salvaged from the Holland-class destroyer.
20 de Julio classColombiaNavWeaps lists the Colombian 20 de Julio class as an ex-Halland-class user of the 120 mm/50 Model 1950 gun. The Smaland association also notes the canceled Halland sister ships reappeared in Colombian service as Siete de Agosto and Veinte de Julio.

Sources: NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950; Defensie 12 cm Bofors article; J19 Smaland About the Destroyer.

Variants

Open sources use different designations for the same Bofors 120 mm/50 automatic twin-turret family, with Swedish service labels, the Dutch Mark 10 label, and later modified Dutch reuse on Tromp-class frigates.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
120 mm/50 Model 1950Swedish designation

NavWeaps uses Model 1950 for the Swedish gun and lists the Halland-class installation.

Sources: NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950

12 cm automatkanon M/50Swedish service name

The Smaland museum-ship association identifies HSwMS Smaland's main artillery as 2 x 2 12 cm automatkanon M/50.

Sources: J19 Smaland About the Destroyer

120 mm/50 Mark 10Netherlands designation

NavWeaps identifies Mark 10 as the Netherlands designation; Netherlands Defence reporting says Dutch guns were license-built at Wilton-Fijenoord Rotterdam.

Sources: NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950, Defensie 12 cm Bofors article

Tromp-class reused Mark 10 mountingModified Dutch reuse

The Royal Netherlands Navy reused 12 cm Bofors guns from HNLMS Gelderland on Tromp-class frigates with modifications including longer ammunition lifts.

Sources: Defensie 12 cm Bofors article

Timeline

120 mm Bofors M1950 Key Events

  1. Bofors development period begins

    NavWeaps gives the gun's design period as 1944 to 1950, placing it in the immediate postwar generation of automatic naval gun projects.

    Sources: NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950

  2. Model 1950 enters service

    NavWeaps lists 1950 as the in-service date and identifies Swedish Halland-class, Dutch Holland/Friesland/Tromp-class, Colombian 20 de Julio-class, and Peruvian ex-Friesland-class ship use.

    Sources: NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950

  3. Dutch naval service begins

    The Dutch Ministry of Defence says the 12 cm Bofors gun entered Royal Netherlands Navy service at the beginning of 1954, first on Holland- and Friesland-class submarine-hunter destroyers.

    Sources: Defensie 12 cm Bofors article

  4. HMS Smaland delivered with M/50 main guns

    The Smaland museum-ship association identifies HMS Smaland as the second Halland-class destroyer, delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1956 with 2 x 2 12 cm automatkanon M/50 as main artillery.

    Sources: J19 Smaland About the Destroyer

  5. Gelderland turrets reused on Tromp class

    The Dutch Ministry of Defence reports that Bofors 12 cm guns removed from HNLMS Gelderland were adapted and installed on Tromp-class guided-weapon frigates during their construction period.

    Sources: Defensie 12 cm Bofors article

  6. Dutch Mark 10 service ends

    Dutch Ministry material gives 2001 as the end of Royal Netherlands Navy service for the 12 cm Bofors gun after its destroyer and Tromp-class frigate service.

    Sources: Defensie 12 cm Bofors article

Media

120 mm Bofors M1950 Images

120 mm Bofors M1950, Twin 120 mm/50 automatic dual-purpose naval gun turret, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: HMS Smaland aft 120 mm turret
120 mm Bofors M1950, Twin 120 mm/50 automatic dual-purpose naval gun turret, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: 12 cm akan M50.jpg
120 mm Bofors M1950, Twin 120 mm/50 automatic dual-purpose naval gun turret, Naval Systems - view 3
Source: HMS Smaland, forward 120 mm turret.JPG
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Sources

NavWeaps 120 mm Model 1950Publisher: NavWeaps | Note: Supports the gun designation, Bofors design origin, design and service dates, ship classes, loading arrangement, rate of fire, range, elevation, traverse, crew, and other technical data. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defensie 12 cm Bofors articlePublisher: Ministerie van Defensie | Note: Supports Royal Netherlands Navy service from 1954 to 2001, use on Holland-, Friesland-, and Tromp-class ships, license construction by Wilton-Fijenoord, crew and ammunition-handling details, and later Tromp-class modifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-13WeaponSystems 120mm Bofors M1950Publisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports overview context, designations, production count, users, design features, and platform-installation summary for the 120 mm Bofors M1950 turret. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Bofors 120 mm gun m 50.jpegPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the Bofors 120 mm gun mod 1950 photograph; the Commons file page identifies the image as public domain by the uploader. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Smaland aft 120 mm turretPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the aft 120 mm turret on Swedish destroyer HMS Smaland; the file is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 and GFDL by the photographer. | Accessed: 2026-07-1312 cm akan M50.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Bofors 120 mm automatic gun on Swedish destroyer HMS Smaland; the Commons file page identifies it as public domain by the uploader. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Smaland, forward 120 mm turret.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the forward 120 mm turret on Swedish destroyer HMS Smaland; the Commons file page lists Marcusroos as author and CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Maritiman Smaland museum shipPublisher: Maritiman | Note: Supports museum-ship context for HMS Smaland, including construction, Swedish Navy handover, retirement, and Halland-class service context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13J19 Smaland About the DestroyerPublisher: Foreningen jagaren Smalands vanner | Note: Supports HMS Smaland as the second Halland-class destroyer, Halland-class Swedish service context, 2 x 2 12 cm automatkanon M/50 main artillery, Robot 08 modernization context, and Colombian Siete de Agosto / Veinte de Julio lineage from canceled Halland sister ships. | Accessed: 2026-07-13