A gunner operates heavy artillery on aircraft, with most working in helicopters. Responsibilities include inspecting, loading, firing, and repairing artillery, as well as briefing passengers and coordinating with pilots. The job is high-risk, with limited mobility and the potential to be a main target for enemies.
A gunner is a member of an army that operates heavy artillery mounted on aircraft. Such personnel were much more common in past generations, well before the advent of automatically controlled artillery, and today most gunner personnel work in helicopters rather than planes. In the past, however, an aircraft could have up to five gunners aboard a plane during combat, with each person operating a different weapon or type of artillery during the course of a flight. Tail gunners, for example, would work exclusively at the rear, tail, or plane, while a nose gunner would work at the front of the aircraft.
Today’s gunner’s job responsibilities are quite similar to the roles played by gunners in the past. The gunner will inspect the artillery before the flight takes place to ensure it is working properly. If necessary, he or she will mount the weapons on the aircraft during this time. After the weapons are assembled and inspected, the gunner may be responsible for loading ammunition onto the plane. Before the flight begins, the shooter may need to brief the passengers on what to do in the event of an armed conflict, and he or she will need to remain in constant contact with the pilots to ensure coordination during the mission.
During a battle, the air gunner fires various types of artillery at enemy targets, which means that the air gunner is often the main target for enemies. The risks of this job are extremely high and the gunner is at risk of serious injury or death while on duty. The gunner must remain close to the artillery to fire it properly, so he or she has limited mobility during a battle. This was particularly problematic in the past on certain aircraft; tail gunners were often the targets of drag aircraft which aimed to neutralize this weapon by firing on the gunner.
The gunner will also need to repair artillery in flight and operate other pieces of equipment needed to complete the job. This may involve the use of night vision goggles, mechanical or hydraulic systems or manual systems. He or she will also need to read blueprints, maps and written instructions, even in extremely dangerous or stressful situations. Various communication systems are also used by gunners during an operation.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
