Gunner — AS90
Royal Artillery crewing the AS90 — 155mm of self-propelled firepower reaching targets miles beyond the horizon. Heavy, loud, physical work as part of a tight gun detachment. The Gunners' motto is Ubique — 'Everywhere' — and the noise tends to agree.
The AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer and it will dominate your professional life in ways you did not anticipate when you signed up. Each gun has a crew of five: commander, driver, two ammunition numbers, and the layer (who operates the gun itself). You rotate through crew positions as you develop. Life as an AS90 Gunner means working within a battery of six to eight guns, understanding fire missions, gun safety, and the mechanics of the weapon system in considerable depth. The vehicle itself is a tracked armoured platform — heavy, loud, and demanding to maintain. REME look after the engine but the crew is responsible for the weapon system, the autoloader, and the general serviceability of the platform. Barracks time involves a substantial amount of vehicle maintenance, particularly after exercises. Firing camps, typically at Otterburn or Salisbury Plain, are the highlight — live firing a 155mm howitzer is genuinely impressive and you feel the noise in your chest from twenty metres. Ukraine has reset institutional thinking on artillery across NATO, and there is renewed interest in the AS90 regiment's role and readiness. Postings are largely to 1 Regiment, 3 Regiment, or 4 Regiment Royal Artillery, with the main stations being Thorpe Barracks (South Cerney), Tidworth, and Larkhill. The role suits those who are practical, mechanically minded, and comfortable with close teamwork in a confined space.
Phase 1 at an Army Training Regiment, followed by Phase 2 trade training at the Royal School of Artillery (RSA), Larkhill. Trade training covers gunnery principles, fire control orders, crew drills, and AS90-specific skills. Duration of Phase 2 is approximately 24 weeks. Driver training for tracked vehicles (Class 3 and Class 1 Cat H) is included. Further qualifications include Gun Number 1 (crew commander) course and potential promotion courses through the RSA.
A typical working week involves PT parade in the morning, followed by crew training or vehicle maintenance. Maintenance days are common — tracked vehicles require constant attention. On the ranges the pace accelerates: early starts, ammunition handling, fire missions, and then post-exercise cleaning that takes longer than anyone wants. Admin afternoons on Fridays are the norm in garrison but exercises and deployments override all routines.
Lance Bombardier after roughly 18 months to two years; Bombardier (equivalent to Corporal) by year four to five. Gun Sergeant by the eight to ten year point for motivated soldiers. Career diversification opens up through JTAC, STA (surveillance and target acquisition), or conversion to a different artillery platform. Warrant Officer posts exist within batteries as Battery Sergeant Major. Late entry commissioning available for exceptional WOs.
Mechanical aptitude and team leadership skills transfer to logistics, heavy plant operation, and transport sectors. Formal driver qualifications (Cat H tracked and various wheeled categories) are issued through the military and recognised civvyside. The gunnery knowledge itself does not convert directly, but the structured approach to safety-critical operations is recognised in industrial environments.
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Gunner — AS90 (British Army) — Frequently Asked Questions
Q01Is Gunner — AS90 in the British Army (United Kingdom) worth it?
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Q03What is Gunner — AS90 in United Kingdom actually like according to veterans?
Q04What does a Gunner — AS90 do in the British Army?
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