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328:, held armourers in high esteem, saying "without armament, there is no Air Force." Within RAF squadrons armourers are colloquially known as "pin-monkeys" and, more commonly, "plumbers". The term "plumber" has several possible origins, but most likely stems from the maintenance of the gun turrets on heavy bombers. The turrets were hydraulically and electrically powered and contained pipework hence the reference to
470:(92Y) MOS; these soldiers will have received some basic armorer training as part of their MOS training, and will often attend further armorer training when assigned to that duty position. Many of the traditional functions of an armorer are performed by a separate MOS, Small Arms Repairer (MOS 91F, formerly 45B), which performs higher levels of ordnance maintenance and repair.
250:(REME) and work on an extremely wide variety of weapon systems. Typically, armourers are attached to every type of front line operational unit within the British Army such as Infantry, Cavalry, Engineers, Logistics, Special Forces and specialist training teams. They can also be found in larger REME units called REME Battalions providing in-depth repair and front line support.
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Individual line soldiers within an army infantry battalion are responsible for daily cleaning of their individual weapons, both the armourers and artificers (also known by their unofficial title of "tiffies") maintain both internal and external components and structural integrity of all components of
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for their trade-specific training. Once qualified they can find themselves employed on a wide variety of tasks, including non-trade-specific jobs such as the flight line servicing of aircraft. As well as prepping, maintaining and loading aircraft bombs, missiles and aircraft assisted escape systems,
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armourers are the technicians who are responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of all service weapons. These include rifles, light machine guns, pistols, recoilless weapons, heavy machine guns, mortars, and associated equipment, including APC turrets, field kitchens. Personal battle
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Their training takes a minimum of four years, where for the first three years they serve an apprenticeship to qualify as a fitter/turner and their final year is training within the ordnance school to become armourers. Following a minimum of 5 years of mechanical work experience within an ordnance
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On a day-to-day basis
Armourers maintain a wide variety of weapons and optical equipment, they are highly skilled in the use of hand tools and are able to maintain their equipment across the globe. They formally inspect every weapon annually/or every six months (dependent on weapon type) and also
226:) to refer to those who repair fencers' weaponry, safety equipment, fencing-strips, scoring machines, and reels. At sport-fencing events, the individuals responsible for checking equipment safety and maintaining the strips, reels and scoring machines during the tournament are also known as
285:(RAF), armourers are considered the most specialized of any trade in the RAF, but they hold a qualification for each specific weapon rather than gaining every qualification for all small arms and larger weapon systems. After spending an initial phase of generic training at
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Armourers have the rank of
Craftsman upon starting their trade training, which is the equivalent of Private and they have similar ranks of the remainder of the Army thereafter. As they increase in rank they can follow one of two streams: Artisan or
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With the renewed interest in traditional armour and weaponry the occupation also involves working with film, stage, and historical and reenactment societies. Period costumes may require reproduction armour, swords, and related equipment. The HEMA
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There is increasing evidence that companies specializing in the manufacture of armoured vehicles or applique armour for application onto vehicles of all types (cars, boats, aircraft) are referring to themselves as armourers; such as the UK company
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Weapons that do not pass the armourers' or artificers' inspection are withdrawn from service to be repaired or destroyed. Ordnance personnel are expected to be proficient soldiers and will receive the same amount of training as line soldiers.
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They are on occasion expected to participate fully in ceremonial and operational duties and their rank structure is determined by the branch of the military they serve in for example Army- Private, Corporal, and so on.
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Sighting, missile and robotic systems are maintained by technicians known as armament artificers instrument or AAI. These technicians also serve a four-year apprenticeship and qualify as electrical science engineers.
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advise the end-user on all matters of equipment care. Within a modern
Infantry Battalion, they are exposed to the maximum varieties of weapons and optical equipment, with only Special Forces possessing more.
207:. In some ways, this is a reversion back to the original meaning of the term insofar as these companies forge, adapt or integrate physical armour onto platforms in order to protect human life.
258:. As an Artificer they must complete a strenuous Selection course and then attend an 18-month intensive engineering course where they work towards and gain an electrical and mechanical
524:, a Georgian-Dutchman, whose armouring skills are considered indispensable by the Dutch and Georgian authorities for the restoration and reconstruction of medieval armour and weaponry.
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At present, the U.S. Army does not have a
Military Occupational Specialty of "armorer". At the unit level, an armorer duty position exists and is filled by soldiers holding the
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An
Artificer is responsible for advanced maintenance and service inspection of heavy caliber weapons (Artillery, Anti-aircraft, Cavalry main armament, shipborne weapons).
362:, which is the only corps of the Irish Army which due to the technical expertise and training required of its members, does not have an Irish reserve force subsidiarity.
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they are also responsible for the maintenance of explosive release systems and small arms within station armouries like the L85A2 (SA80), 9mm Glock 17 pistol and the
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418:(MOS) designations across the services. Even where the title has disappeared, those with duties similar to those of earlier armorers are often referred to as such.
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191:. The term may also be used in film and TV production for a person responsible for prop guns and other weapons; the head of this function is often called a
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Armourers are the oldest trade in the
British Army and trace their heritage back several centuries. Today they form a core role within the Corps of
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Class 1 (WO1) as an
Artificer Sergeant Major (ASM) or even gain a Commission. Artisan Armourers who remain working at trade can also achieve
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274:(WO1) typically as a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of a REME Battalion and potentially gain a Late Entry (LE) commission.
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unit and reaching NCO rank they can be selected then go onto further training to become what is known as an
Armament
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equipment such as helmet, webbing, and respirator also fall within their responsibilities.
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ship in
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with the majority other non commissioned trainees they transfer to
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imported into
Australia to counter a possible Japanese threat.
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568:"Apprentices | Army | Careers | Defence Forces"
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was training her husband's daughter, likely in the field.
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systems, with some duties resembling those of a civilian
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the weapon system by periodical inspection and gauging.
543:"The Women who Forged Medieval England | History Today"
68:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
437:3P051B Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM)
352:or AA, this training takes a minimum of 5 months.
324:and conventional weapons. The founder of the RAF,
516:indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast
414:The title "armorer" was formerly part of several
386:In a response to the disastrous unloading of the
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167:In modern terms, an armourer is a member of a
248:Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
128:Learn how and when to remove this message
266:(SSGT) and have the potential to reach
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316:, in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (
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210:The title is also used in the sport
66:adding citations to reliable sources
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610:Military ranks of the United States
262:, upon completion they emerge as a
23:. For the role on a film crew, see
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615:United States military specialisms
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427:2111 Small Arms Repair Technician
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205:Armourers and Coach Builders
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491:612 Airplane Armorer-Gunner
477:(WWII-era successor to the
19:For the type of smith, see
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600:Combat support occupations
423:United States Marine Corps
396:Royal Australian Air Force
394:leaking from a drum — the
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320:) role able to deal with
156:worked as an armourer in
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272:Warrant Officer Class 1
510:people in what is now
468:Unit Supply Specialist
175:force who works in an
144:is a person who makes
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303:Ammunition Technician
488:911 Airplane Armorer
62:improve this article
281:Within the British
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529:References
341:Irish Army
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287:RAF Halton
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77:"Armourer"
27:. For the
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595:Armourers
388:Idomeneus
382:Australia
350:Artificer
256:Artificer
228:armourers
158:Cheapside
29:Star Wars
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