The Bofors had higher muzzle velocity, impressive barrel life, and greater reach, but clip loading reduced its practical rate of fire to roughly 80-90 rounds per minute. The belt-fed pom-pom could sustain about 115 rounds per minute with fewer loading pauses, though the resulting heat imposed additional barrel wear. Maximum reach also differed from the quoted effective-range measure: full-performance Bofors ammunition could warn an attacker farther out, yet the high-velocity Mark VIII pom-pom's five-metre-ordinate figure was about 1,700 yards against roughly 1,500 for the Bofors. Mounting, sighting, barrel temperature, and ammunition therefore changed what specification-table numbers meant in practice. Tribal-class destroyers illustrate the British expectation of prolonged defence: their quad pom-pom was officially supported by about 14,000 rounds.
Chapter · 34:18-43:41
The technical comparison turns on practical fire and ammunition supply
Bofors muzzle velocity and reach are weighed against pom-pom belt feed, practical firing rate, barrel heating, and very large shipboard ammunition outfits.