A base station antenna system producing a beam, includes an array antenna rotatably mounted with respect to an antenna support so as to permit azimuth steering of the antenna beam and an azimuth position rotation arrangement configured to rotate the array antenna with respect to the antenna support about an antenna axis. The rotation arrangement further includes an actuator mounted on the antenna support having an operator adapted to move linearly along an operator motion axis parallel to the antenna axis when the actuator is energized. A motion converter is coupled between the actuator and the array antenna, wherein linear movement of the operator along said operator motion axis produces rotary movement of the antenna about the parallel antenna axis.