Ilmatorjuntamuseo
Hispano-Suiza / Oerlikon AA-gun
A Swiss-made motor-operated light anti-aircraft cannon from 1962. The cannon was manufactured by Hispano-Suiza, Geneva, Switzerland, and the calculator and sighting systems were made by Officine Galileo, Italy. The Hispano-Suiza weapons division was later bought by Oerlikon, which continued to produce the weapon system. The sighting system is Galileo P36, the same as in the Bofors cannon in the Tuusula Hall.
Three 1957 Swiss-made Hispano cannons underwent tests in Finland, but due to many shortcomings, they were not procured. The manufacturer made improvements by upgrading the drive system, replacing the mechanical transmission with a hydraulic one, and replacing the old calculator with the Galileo P36.
Model 1961 and model 1962 Hispanos were in use by the Defence Forces until 2000. One of the early test cannons of the 1957 model is exhibited at the museum in front of the Museum Café.
References: Vehviläinen Raimo et al., Itsenäisen Suomen Ilmatorjuntatykit 1917–2000, Sotamuseo, Helsinki 2005; Palmu Pentti, Yön yli päivään – Suomen ilmatorjunnan vaiheita 1925–1990, Ilmatorjuntaupseeriyhdistys Ry, Helsinki 1989; Ilmatorjuntajoukot 1925–1960, Ilmatorjuntaupseeriyhdistys Ry, Helsinki 1963