The Polsten Anti-Aircraft Gun

The British Army never held 20mm calibre weapons with much regard, feeling that they were not powerful enough to deal with the modern aircraft. The standard anti-aircraft gun of the British army had been the Bofors 40mm and while this was a powerful and reliable weapon something lighter and more mobile was required. The result was the Polsten 20mm anti-aircraft gun and the first guns were completed in November 1943. The Polsten was design to be as quick and cheap to produce as possible, which enabled it to be produced in large numbers with ease. Single and triple mountings were produced and a large number of the weapons were placed on the back of trucks. The Polsten added the needed light anti-aircraft capacity to the British army but by the time it entered service the threat of enemy aircraft had been greatly reduced.

Polsten Anti-Aircraft Gun Data

Production of Polsten Anti-Aircraft guns by year