TL;DR
Royal Artillery personnel are among the highest-risk group in the British Army for noise-induced hearing loss. Artillery firing generates impulse noise well above safe thresholds. Former and serving Gunners can bring a Royal Artillery deafness claim against the Ministry of Defence for failing to adequately protect their hearing. Compensation ranges from £8,560 to £133,810 under the [Judicial College Guidelines](https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/guidelines-for-the-assessment-of-general-damages-in-personal-injury-cases/) (17th Edition, 2024). There is no minimum service period. A single firing exercise can be enough to establish a claim if hearing protection was inadequate. The MoD settlement scheme closes **the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances**.
The Royal Artillery is one of the most noise-hazardous environments in the British Army. Gunners who served on light guns, self-propelled howitzers, or anti-aircraft systems were routinely exposed to some of the highest impulse noise levels in the armed forces. Many left service with hearing loss or tinnitus they accepted as an occupational fact — not realising the MoD had a legal duty to protect them, and that compensation is available when it failed to do so.
Why Royal Artillery service causes hearing damage
Artillery firing generates impulse noise — sudden, extremely intense sound events — of a type that causes disproportionate inner ear damage compared to continuous noise at the same energy level. The muzzle blast from a artillery piece can reach 160–190dB at the firing position, far above the safe threshold of 85dB for continuous noise and 140dB for impulse noise.
Common equipment associated with Royal Artillery hearing loss claims:
- L118 Light Gun — the standard towed 105mm artillery piece. Used extensively by airborne and commando artillery units on exercises and operations. Produces significant muzzle blast at the breach, to the rear, and along the side of the barrel.
- AS90 self-propelled howitzer — 155mm self-propelled artillery. Crew operating inside the armoured turret were exposed to firing concussion even with hatches closed. External crew members at the breach faced direct blast exposure.
- QF 25-pounder — used in earlier decades by veterans now in their sixties and seventies. Hearing protection standards and provision were substantially lower in the era of this equipment.
- Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) — used by 39 Regiment Royal Artillery and others. Rocket launch generates intense blast and overpressure.
- Light Air Defence weapons — Rapier and earlier systems operated by Royal Artillery air defence regiments, many of which involved close proximity to propulsion noise.
Noise exposure in the Royal Artillery was not limited to the firing position. Acoustic overpressure travelled through vehicles, confined spaces, and adjacent positions. Observation post parties, signals personnel attached to artillery batteries, and repair tradespeople who worked in proximity to firing also sustained exposure.
What duty of care did the MoD owe Royal Artillery Gunners?
The MoD was legally required to:
- Assess the noise hazard created by artillery firing and identify safe exposure limits
- Provide hearing protection appropriate to the impulse noise levels generated (standard foam ear plugs were often inadequate for the energy levels involved)
- Enforce its use during training exercises and operational firing
- Conduct regular audiometric testing to detect developing hearing damage
- Remove personnel from firing duties where hearing damage was identified
Many Royal Artillery veterans report that ear defenders were not consistently provided or enforced — particularly on live firing ranges, during exercises, and on operational tours. The MoD's own audiometric programme coverage was inconsistent across units and time periods.
Where the MoD fell short of these obligations, it bears legal responsibility for the hearing damage that followed. You can read more about how MoD duty of care failures are assessed in claims.
Who can make a Royal Artillery deafness claim?
Any former or serving member of the Royal Artillery — Gunners, NCOs, officers, attached arms, and others who served in proximity to firing — who has developed hearing loss or tinnitus linked to service noise is potentially eligible.
There is no minimum service period. A single field exercise or live firing package in which hearing protection was inadequate is sufficient to establish the basis of a claim. Veterans who served for two years or thirty years are equally entitled to claim if the MoD failed in its duty.
The claim is available whether you are still serving or left the Army years or decades ago. Many successful claimants are veterans in their sixties who left service long before recognising that their hearing deterioration was noise-related rather than simply the result of age.
How much compensation can a Gunner claim?
Compensation is assessed under the Judicial College Guidelines (17th Edition, 2024) based on the severity of your hearing damage.
| Condition | Compensation range |
|---|---|
| Total deafness (no tinnitus) | £110,750 to £133,810 |
| Complete loss in one ear (with complications) | £38,210 to £55,570 |
| Severe NIHL with severe tinnitus | £36,260 to £55,570 |
| Moderate NIHL and tinnitus | £18,180 to £36,260 |
| Mild tinnitus with some NIHL | £15,370 to £18,180 |
| Mild NIHL or mild tinnitus alone | Around £14,300 |
| Slight tinnitus with slight NIHL | £8,890 to £15,370 |
| Slight loss or tinnitus alone | Up to £8,560 |
Special damages are added on top: hearing aids and replacements, lost earnings, private treatment, and transport. A real outcome from our caseload: an artillery veteran received a £45,000 settlement for noise-induced hearing loss caused by service with heavy artillery. See our compensation amounts page for the full breakdown of how awards are calculated.
Does the claim cover tinnitus as well as hearing loss?
Yes. Tinnitus — ringing, buzzing, or whistling in the ears — is one of the most common consequences of artillery noise exposure and is compensated separately from hearing loss. If you have both conditions, both are assessed and included in the claim. Many Royal Artillery veterans find that tinnitus is their primary complaint even where measurable hearing loss is relatively mild.
Time limits and the MoD settlement scheme
The standard limitation period for a Royal Artillery deafness claim is three years from your date of knowledge — when you first knew, or should have known, that your hearing damage was significant and linked to service. This is not the date you left the Army. Many veterans bring successful claims years after discharge once they understand the connection between their service and their symptoms.
Courts retain discretion under Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 to allow claims outside the standard period, but this is not guaranteed and becomes harder to exercise as time passes.
The MoD has also established a settlement scheme with an extended deadline of the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances. Claims submitted before this date are processed within a streamlined, agreed framework. After the deadline, claims revert to standard litigation — slower and procedurally more demanding. If you have been considering a claim, the July 2026 deadline is the concrete reason to act now.
How to start a Royal Artillery deafness claim
The process begins with a free assessment. You describe your service history, the equipment and roles you served in, and your current symptoms. Forces Hearing Claims advises whether you have a viable claim and explains the no win, no fee terms. You pay nothing unless the claim succeeds.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim if I served in the Royal Artillery but was not on a gun line?+
Yes. Artillery battery personnel who served in observation post parties, command post roles, and signals positions attached to artillery batteries were all exposed to firing noise. Proximity to the gun line during firing exercises is sufficient for a claim.
I served on Rapier air defence — does that qualify?+
Yes. RAF Regiment and Royal Artillery air defence personnel who operated Rapier and Jernas systems were exposed to propulsion noise and radar equipment noise. This is a recognised occupational noise exposure for a hearing loss claim.
My hearing loss was diagnosed years after I left the Army. Can I still claim?+
Almost certainly. The three-year limitation period runs from your date of knowledge — when you first connected your hearing deterioration to your artillery service. Many veterans claim successfully long after discharge.