Gunners

A gunner is a person who operates, directs, or is responsible for firing a gun in military contexts. The term covers artillery crews, gunners on ships and aircraft, and others who handle mounted or handheld weapons as part of a firing team. In some armed forces, “Gunner” is also an official rank within artillery units.

Gunnery has a long history dating from siege artillery in the Middle Ages through the development of field artillery in the early modern era. Artillery gunners load, aim, and fire the piece, maintain its equipment, and manage ammunition. In naval warfare, gunners served on ships with gun crews handling shell loading and target designation; with the advent of modern fire-control systems, roles expanded to include anti-aircraft and coastal batteries. In aviation, aircraft gunners operated mounted weapons and worked with onboard or ground-based fire-control systems.

Modern gunnery encompasses several specialties. Artillery gunners coordinate with forward observers and fire-control teams using ballistic data, meteorological information, and indirect-fire calculations to deliver rounds on targets at range. Anti-aircraft gunners employ radar, tracking systems, and guided ammunition to engage fast-moving aircraft and missiles. In land and air forces, crew-served weapons and machine-gun teams are also described as gunners, reflecting their role as operators of weapon systems within a larger unit.

Training and safety are central to the role. Gunners undergo instruction in weapon handling, target designation, ballistics, maintenance, and ammunition handling, followed by live-fire exercises and simulations to ensure accuracy and safety in combat and training environments.