weaponsman

plural weaponsmen

1. A member of a group that is armed with and has the job of using some type of weapon.

   Crusaders were kings, lords, wretches, children, women, weaponsmen, churchmen, hermits, harlots, adventurers.

   1974, Lauran Paine, Saladin; a man for all ages, page 13

   2 more examples

   The Secret Intelligence section was made up of a truly amazing coterie of people, from spies and demolition experts to skilled linguists in every known language, vastly skilled weaponsmen, clandestine radio experts, para-military commandos, experts in every kind of mayhem -- mostly silent, naturalized, loyal Americans who had been born in every enemy country, and groups of combat-commandos, the best available to accompany secret agents into enemy country as protectors.

   1976, Lauran Paine, The Invisible World of Espionage, page 73

   In the next instant six of the weaponsmen went down, their cries of alarm drowning the Challing's laughter as he ran down a dark alley at the heels of his fellow thief.

   1985, Robert E. Vardeman, Blood fountain, page 35

2. usually qualified by a type of weapongovernmentA soldier who is a specialist in a specific type of weapon.

   LT Coulombe was commissioned from the ranks in 1969, after 11 years enlisted as an underwater weaponsman.

   1980 Winter, “New Canadfian Forces Exchange Officer Arrives at NEDU”, in Faceplate, volume 11, page 5

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   For example, a fairly new rating in the Navy is that of nuclear weaponsman. Before this rating was established, a very thorough analysis of enlisted duties in nuclear weapons units was made.

   1960, Tri-service Conference on Job Qualifications Analysis, page 5

   The division also maintains a mockup ASROC (antisub rocket) mounting, to train weaponsmen from west coast ships fitted with ASROC.

   1982, Sentinel - Volumes 18-19, page IVI

   We had three automatic-weaponsmen in a SEAL squad at that time. Two carried Stoners, and one had an M-60. 1 was a little too small for the M-60, but I could shoot the Stoner well.

   1998, Dennis J. Cummings, The Men Behind the Trident: Seal Team One in Vietnam, page 226

   Laden with mortars, ammo, and a Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun, the heavy weaponsmen lumbered after the two to the position Gunnar had chosen.

   1990, John Lansing, Nguy-Hiem War Zone, page 57

   On the hill to the northeast of the crossroads and the N-32, the 3rd Battalion's provisional company of rifle and light weaponsmen do not know what is going on.

   1998, J. C. Doherty, The shock of war