Universal soldier: what can Russian fighters in the Ratnik. Ancient Russia "The hand of the fighters is tired of stabbing"

Times change, we change, technologies change. More recently, wars have been on a massive scale. Soldiers (warriors, warriors, vigilantes) fought as part of large units. Accordingly, their uniforms were bright, because it was easier for the commanders to navigate the battlefield, distinguishing where theirs was, where they were. In the conditions of modern conflicts, the emphasis is on the quality of weapons and the stealth of a fighter, rather than on beauty and catchiness. Increasingly, special operations are carried out by small detachments that do the job not only thanks to knowledge and professionalism, but also due to high-quality equipment, weapons, communications and navigation.

In this article we will talk about the latest Russian-made equipment "Warrior". Let's single out the main elements of this equipment, their features, and compare them with the combat kits of other countries. We will also evaluate the prospects for the development of this equipment.

What is the equipment "Warrior"

The name "Warrior" was given to the domestic set of combat equipment (KBEV), which can be called a new generation of equipment. This complex uses advanced scientific developments aimed at improving the combat capability of a soldier in battle.

This is achieved with the help of completely new terrain orientation systems, devices for movement and observation at night, equipment for monitoring the physical and psychological health of a fighter. In addition, the latest generation materials are used in armor and clothing, designed specifically for extreme conditions.

The Ratnik kit includes the latest elements that allow the fighter to observe the situation much better, aim, maintain communication, and fight with advanced weapons with the appropriate ammunition. More than one defense company is working on this kit. According to the idea of ​​the developers, the Ratnik system will be able to compete with foreign analogues.

The package includes about ten subsystems, it will stand out from the rest due to the fact that it consists of interconnected modules. This will allow the soldier to fight in all weather conditions and time of day. The equipment "Warrior" is complemented by two new Kalashnikov assault rifles: and AEK-971.

History of creation

Initially, in Russia and the USSR, attention was paid to uniforms not as much attention as to weapons and equipment. From the period of the Civil War and up to the war in Afghanistan, the uniform of the Soviet soldier changed slightly. New types of weapons and equipment appeared, but the appearance of a soldier changed little.

For example, bulletproof vests in the Red Army began to be widely used only during the war in the DRA, although the United States used them in Vietnam. Here it should be noted that the Soviet special forces did not use body armor in all operations. This was considered ignoble and uncomfortable in the extreme Afghan conditions.

In Afghanistan, it also became clear that the one who knows how to hide better wins the war, which proved the superiority of quality over quantity and the need for covert and jewelry work.

Many countries are striving to create more comfortable conditions for their soldiers. The Russian command, on the other hand, focused more on efficiency than on comfort. Perhaps the time has come for our unspoiled warriors to try themselves in the role of a soldier of the future. For such purposes, the Ratnik kit was created on the basis of the Barmitsa kit.

Due to the use of the latest scientific developments, this kit significantly increases the efficiency of a soldier in battle and increases his survival rate.

Field tests were carried out at the end of 2012 at the Alabino training ground near Moscow. The life of the Ratnik kit was determined at 5 years, it will be transferred from one soldier to another until the warranty period expires.

Equipment

The equipment "Warrior" includes:

• armored helmet;
• protective glasses;
• body armor;
• overalls;
• universal backpack;
• protective shields;
• weapons and optics.

Helmet

Multilayer helmet weighing about 1 kg. Designed to protect the head of a soldier during the battle (it is able to withstand a pistol bullet even from a short distance), but not only.

The helmet has a built-in communication system and a monocular screen, which transmits the image from the sight of the weapon. The eyes are protected by special glasses, the glasses of which are able to withstand a 6-mm fragment at a speed of 350 meters per second. An electric lamp and a soundproof device are also attached here.

The device protects the soldier from the noise of shots and explosions, enhances human speech, it is possible to mount a walkie-talkie.

Bulletproof vest

Bulletproof vest 6B43, weight - 15 kilograms (complete set), without overhead elements - 9. Provides protection for the upper body from bullets, shrapnel, edged weapons.

Protective shields are made of the latest materials, designed to protect elbows, knees, shoulders, groin from splinters and bullets. Sufficiently convenient and rational protection that saved more than one life.

Overalls

The composition includes a standard camouflage robe, the material of which is impregnated with a special substance that conducts air and protects against moisture.

Thanks to this, the fighter's skin "breathes", the equipment can be worn for at least two days. In the winter version, a heating system is provided. It is represented by an autonomous heat source AIST-1 or AIST-2.

In fact, this is a chemical heating pad that looks like a powder in a sealed package. It also contains instructions for use, safety measures and disposal rules. Although this method of heating has its own nuances, in general it is quite convenient.

In addition to the overalls, the kit includes a life support system: a water-purifying filter, an army watch protected from water and impacts (for the first time in the kit), a Bumblebee knife, a lightweight sapper shovel, as well as power supply elements for the equipment.

The armor is designed to block ultraviolet and infrared radiation, so that the soldier cannot be seen with a thermal imager.

Bertsy

Summer and winter versions of shoes that fit snugly on the foot. Can be worn for several days.

Main armament

As the main weapon, a special improved model of the AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle (less often AEK) with a thermal imager and a special unit for firing from behind an obstacle is used.

The kit also includes collimator sights of different models.

In this modification, it is possible to adjust the length of the butt, as well as to mount all kinds of additional elements (sights, underbarrel grenade launchers, mobile flashlights and much more). Created in 2012.

Sagittarius system

A whole complex located directly on the body of a soldier. With the help of it, the fighters can keep in touch not only with each other, but also with the headquarters, send photos and videos to the command, and determine targets. The system has a built-in GPS and GLONASS location device.

Tactical Backpack

As part of the "Warrior" backpacks of different types can be used. The volume of the main backpack is 50 liters, the small one is 10 liters. It also fits a tent or a sleeping bag.

Advantages and disadvantages

Although the kit is called the uniform of the "soldier of the future", it cannot but have its drawbacks. At the same time, one should not forget about the advantages, which generally cover the negative sides.

Advantages:

• vest is very comfortable. According to the servicemen, it is light enough, convenient for movement and landing. In addition, there is the possibility of a second armor reset. A useful measure in case of a fighter getting into the water. For the Navy, a life jacket was introduced into the Ratnik kit;
• quality weapons;
• relative ease. All uniforms weigh about 20 kilograms (without weapons and ammunition), which is much lighter than the American and German prototypes;
• aesthetics. Equipment in appearance is not inferior to foreign counterparts, and in some ways even surpasses them;
• differential and convenient protection combination. The fighter's body is reliably protected by ceramic-metal coating, armor or Kevlar fabrics. It depends on the task at hand;
• modularity. On unloading fastening of any pockets is possible. In general, the complex is quite convenient for carrying ammunition.

Disadvantages:

• helmet structure. According to the soldiers, the helmet does not fit tightly on the head and “crawls”;
• the bulkiness of backpacks and sleeping bags;
• difficulties in the use of electronics.

Analogues

Needless to say, other countries have similar combat kits? In fairness, it is worth noting that in most countries they appeared earlier than in Russia. Let's briefly consider some of them.

American complex LandWarrior. Weight - 50 kg. The complex includes a computer, a monitor located on the helmet, and the image from the video camera and infrared camera, which are installed directly on the weapon, is transferred to it. In addition, the kit includes: a GPS device, a walkie-talkie, an electric charging module, a sniper search device, control of all weapons.

German complex IdZ. Weight - 43 kg. The complex includes a laser target designator, a computer communication and control system, eye and hearing protection, night vision goggles, a navigation device with the search for mines and soldiers. The weapon is protected from mass destruction.

French complex FELIN. The complex consists of body armor, weapons, ammunition, a protective helmet with a walkie-talkie and a monitor, a GPS device, dry rations for one day, and an information exchange device.

Prospects for the development of "Warrior"

This set is used quite successfully in combat conditions. But there is no limit to perfection, there are already serious modifications in the plans. A new kit is being developed, called "Warrior-3".

It is planned to reduce the amount of electronic filling, while increasing its efficiency. According to Oleg Faustov, chief designer of the Ratnik life support device, the new complex will include an armored helmet with a built-in aiming, communication and control device, combat overalls, and special shoes.

The Ratnik-3 outfit will come with a built-in exoskeleton. Thanks to him, the soldier is able to carry equipment weighing up to 100 kilograms (three times the standard). Although these are only plans and ideas, but technologies are growing, which means that "soldiers of the future" after two or three five-year plans will already enter our lives.

The future starts tomorrow. Although the pace of production is not too high, in the two years of 2014 ... 15, 71 thousand Ratnik complexes were put into service. The government plans to supply the army every year with 50 thousand complexes.

It is also planned to mass-produce the "Warrior-3", described above. Given that the number of Russian armed forces is about 1 million people, the full staffing of this uniform will take some time.

Video

The armament of the Russian warrior consisted of a sword, a saber, a spear, a sulitz, a bow, a dagger-knife, various types of percussion weapons (axes, maces, flails, six-blade, klevtsy), piercing-chopping reeds-halberds; various protective weapons, including, as a rule, a helmet, a shield, a breastplate-cuirass, some elements of armor (bracers, greaves, shoulder pads). Sometimes the horses of wealthy warriors were also removed with protective weapons. In this case, the muzzle, neck, chest (sometimes both chest and croup) and legs of the animal were protected.
Slavic swords IX-XI centuries differed little from the swords of Western Europe. Nevertheless, modern scientists divide them into two dozen types, differing mainly in the shape of the cross and handle. The blades of Slavic swords of the 9th-10th centuries are almost the same type - from 90 to 100 cm long, with a blade width at the handle of 5-7 cm, with a narrowing towards the tip. In the middle of the blade, as a rule, one dol passed. Sometimes there were two or even three of these dols. The true purpose of the fuller is to increase the strength characteristics of the sword, primarily the working moment of inertia of the blade. The thickness of the blade in the depth of the valley is 2.5-4 mm, outside the valley - 5-8 mm. The weight of such a sword averaged one and a half to two kilograms. In the future, swords, like other weapons, change significantly. Preserving the continuity of development, at the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th centuries, swords become shorter (up to 86 cm), lighter (up to 1 kg) and thinner, their length, which occupied half the width of the blade in the 9th-10th centuries, occupies only a third in the 11th-12th centuries. in order to completely turn into a narrow groove in the XIII century. The hilt of the sword was often made of several layers of leather, rarely with any, more often wooden, filler. Sometimes the handle was wrapped with a rope, more often with special impregnation.
The guard and "apple" of the sword were often decorated with fine workmanship, precious materials and blackening. The blade of the sword was often covered with patterns. The handle was crowned with the so-called "apple" - a knob at the end. He not only decorated the sword and prevented the hand from slipping off the hilt, but sometimes acted as a balance. With a sword in which the center of gravity was close to the hilt, it was more convenient to fight, but a blow with the same given impulse of force turned out to be easier.
Brands were often applied to the valleys of ancient swords, often representing complex abbreviations of words, from the second half of the 13th century the brands decrease in size, are applied not to the valley, but to the edge of the blade, and subsequently blacksmiths apply brands in the form of symbols. Such is, for example, the "Passaur spinning top", applied to the Dovmont sword. The study of blacksmith marks on blades and armor is a separate section of historical sphragistics.
In collisions with light and mobile nomads for cavalrymen, a lighter weapon became a more advantageous weapon. saber. The saber strike turns out to be sliding, and its shape determines the displacement of the weapon upon impact towards the handle, facilitating the release of the weapon. It seems that already in the 10th century, Russian blacksmiths, familiar with the products of Eastern and Byzantine craftsmen, forged sabers with a center of gravity shifted to the tip, which made it possible, with the same given impulse of force, to strike a more powerful blow.
It should be noted that some blades of the 18th-20th centuries retain traces of forging (more elongated, "twisted" metal grains are visible in the microscopic analysis of metallographic sections), i.e. old blades, including swords, became "new" in shape in the forges, lighter and more comfortable.
A spear was among the first tools of human labor. In Russia, the spear was one of the most common elements of weapons for both foot and cavalry warriors. The spears of the riders had a length of about 4-5 meters, the foot soldiers - a little more than two. A separate type of Russian spear was spear- a spear with a wide diamond-shaped or laurel-shaped tip up to 40 cm long (only the tip), planted on a shaft. Such a spear could not only stab, but also chop and cut. In Europe, a similar type of spear was called protazana.
In addition to the horn, a proper name in the sources was given to a throwing spear - sulica. These spears were relatively short (probably 1-1.5 meters) with a narrow, light point. Some modern reenactors add a belt loop to the shaft of the sulica. The loop allows you to throw the sulitz farther and more accurately.
Archaeological finds allow us to say that in Ancient Russia were widespread and pillums, a weapon that was still in service with the Roman legionnaires - throwing spears with a long, up to 1 m, tip neck and a wooden handle. In addition to the striking function, these spears, which pierced a simple shield and got stuck in it, became a significant obstacle for the owner of the shield and did not allow it to be used correctly. In addition, as the armor becomes stronger, another type of spear appears - peak. The pike was distinguished by a narrow, often trihedral tip, impaled on a light shaft. The pike displaced both the spear and the horn, first from the equestrian, and then from the foot weapons. Pikes were in service with various troops until the outbreak of World War II.
Among several types of percussion weapons, the main one in terms of prevalence is axe. The length of the blade of the battle ax was 9-15 cm, the width was 12-15 cm, the diameter of the hole for the handle was 2-3 cm, the weight of the battle ax was from 200 to 500 g.
Archaeologists have discovered both mixed-purpose axes weighing up to 450 g, and purely battle axes - coinage- 200-350 g. The length of the handle of the battle ax was 60-70 cm.
Used by Russian soldiers and special throwing axes (European name Francis), which had a rounded shape. Like swords, axes were often made of iron, with a narrow strip of carbon steel on the blade. Due to their low cost, versatility, ease of use and the high pressure developed on the surface that resists impact, axes have become in fact Russian folk weapons.
A much rarer type of ax was ax- a larger and heavier, up to 3 kg, and sometimes more, battle ax.
Mace also a common percussion hand weapon, having a spherical or pear-shaped pommel (strike part), sometimes equipped with spikes, which was mounted on a wooden or metal handle or forged together with the handle. In the late Middle Ages, maces with sharp spikes were called "morgenstern" - the morning star - one of the earliest examples of "black" humor. Some maces had a pyramidal shape with four spikes. It is these tops that are found on the first Russian maces made of iron (less often of bronze). The mace, which had several sharp edges (4-12) in the warhead, was called in Russia pernach. In the 11th-12th centuries, the standard weight of a Russian mace without a handle was 200-300 grams. In the 13th century, the mace was often transformed into a shestoper (pernach), when blades with sharp corners appeared in the striking part, allowing them to pierce more powerful armor. The handle of the mace reached 70 cm. A blow with such a mace, even inflicted on a helmet or armor, can cause serious damage to health in the form of a concussion or, for example, injure a hand through a shield. In time immemorial, ceremonial maces appeared, and later marshal's batons, made using precious metals.
war hammer, in fact, was the same mace, but by the 15th century it had developed into a real monster with a point, lead weighting and a long, up to one and a half meters, heavy handle. Such a weapon, to the detriment of combat qualities, was awesome.
Flail It was a shock part attached to the handle with a strong flexible connection.
Battle flail actually was a flail on a long handle.
Klevets, in fact, was the same mace with a single, sometimes slightly bent to the handle, spike.
Murder weapon with a beautiful Italian name filling It was a battle flail with several shock parts.
Berdysh It was a wide long ax in the form of a crescent (with a blade length of 10 to 50 cm), usually ending in a point on the side of the reverse handle.
Halberd(from the Italian alabarda) - a piercing-cutting type weapon, structurally close to a reed, combining a long spear and a wide ax.
There are dozens of other elements of weapons, of course, which were used by Russian soldiers. This and combat pitchfork, and owls, and exotic guisarmes.
The complexity and subtlety of its design strikes the medieval onion, sometimes assembled from dozens of parts. Note that the tension force of a combat bow reached 80 kg, while a modern male sports bow has a tension force of only 35-40 kg.
Protective armor most often consisted of a helmet, breastplate, handrails, greaves and some elements of less common protective weapons. Helmets of the 9th-12th centuries were usually riveted from several (as a rule, 4-5, rarely 2-3) sector-shaped fragments, either with overlapping parts on top of each other, or using overlapping plates. Visually monolithic (riveted flush and polished in such a way that it gives the impression of one piece of metal) helmets become only in the XIII century. Many helmets were supplemented with aventail - chain mail mesh covering the cheeks and neck. Sometimes, from non-ferrous metals with gilding or silvering, elements decorating the helmet were made. One type of helmet becomes hemispherical, sits deeper on the head, covering the temple and ear, the other is strongly extended and, moreover, crowned with a high spire. There is also a modernization of the helmet into a shishak - a low, with a height less than the radius, a hemispherical helmet.
It seems that both the helmet and the armor of a Russian, and most likely, a medieval warrior were most often made of leather, made of specially processed leather. Only this can explain such a small number of finds of elements of protective armor by archaeologists (until 1985, 37 helmets, 112 chain mail, parts of 26 plate and scaly armor, 23 shield fragments were found throughout the USSR). Leather, with appropriate processing, in terms of strength characteristics was almost not inferior to low-quality steel grades. Her weight was less than almost an order of magnitude! The hardness of the surface layer of treated leather is higher than the hardness of "soft" steels, some types of brass and copper. The main disadvantage of leather armor was its low wear. Three or four cycles of thermal cycling, sometimes just prolonged rain, was enough to reduce the strength of leather armor by 2-3 times. That is, after 4-5 "outputs" leather armor, strictly speaking, fell into disrepair and passed to a junior "by rank" or by condition.
Those type-setting armor that we see in medieval drawings were primarily leather. Leather pieces were riveted in rings or tied with leather braid. Also, from four to six pieces of leather, a helmet was assembled. It may be objected to this remark: why are the remains of ancient edged weapons so insignificant. But edged weapons were reforged - after all, steel was expensive in the Middle Ages, and most blacksmiths could reforge a sword into a saber, but only a few could make steel, even of very low quality.
Most medieval drawings show us warriors in scaly armor made of leather. So, on the famous "Bayi Carpet" there is not a single warrior in chain mail stockings; Angus McBride, the chief artist of the Osprey series, wore these stockings on almost half of the warriors he painted in the Normans book. Out of a hundred and fifty medieval drawings, I found only seven, where the warriors were supposedly depicted in chain mail stockings, most in leather braids and boots. Of course, chainmail stockings, and forged plate armor, and steel helmets with a visor or with a "mask" took place. But only the highest nobility could order and dress them - kings and princes, wealthy knights and boyars. Even a warlike rich city dweller, who went to the militia with pleasure and pride, could not always afford full metal armor - it cost so much and was slowly completed. Steel plate armor spread more and more, but more often as tournament armor, from the second quarter of the 14th century.
An amazing, actually composite in terms of material design was a medieval shield. Between the layers of thick, specially processed leather that made it up, strong thin woven shaping branches, and flat shales, and layers of horn, and the same flat, thin metal flash were placed. Such a shield was exceptionally strong and light and, alas, completely short-lived.
Artels of gunsmiths were respected and popular in the Middle Ages, but the lack of special literature that consolidated the successes achieved for posterity made this delicate production unstable, when the final products, be it a shield or a sword made by a crafty craftsman, were many times inferior to the best samples. Difficult to achieve, bought at a high price, strength increasingly gave way to decorative trim, partly turned into a whole artificial science in Western Europe - heraldry.
Needless to say, the warriors dressed in metal armor made an exceptional impression on their contemporaries. The artists tried to capture the sparkle of elegant metal forms that struck them on the elegant figures of the nobility. Armor, as an element of pictorial enhancement of the image, was used by almost all the great painters of the late Middle Ages: Dürer, Raphael, Botticelli, Brueghel, Titian, Leonardo, and Velazquez. Surprisingly, nowhere, except for the muscular cuirass on the Medici tomb, did the great Michelangelo depict armor. Restrained by severe religious restrictions, Russian artists also painted armor in icons and illustrations very carefully.
The helmet and cuirass were and remain the elements of lamellar protective weapons that once and forever found their place and passed along with hoplites and centurions, knights and knights, cuirassiers and today's special forces. Although there is a huge distance between the "muscular" cuirass of the 4th century BC and today's "composite" body armor.
Considering the armament of a Russian warrior, one can assume a possible sequence of his actions in an offensive battle. A sword or saber in a leather or cloth sheath hung on the side of the combatant. A sliding blow of a saber with a center of gravity shifted to the point, inflicted by a skillful hand forward and down, was more terrible than a blow with a sword.
At the belt in a quiver made of birch bark, covered with leather, the warrior kept up to two dozen arrows, behind his back - a bow. The bowstring was stretched immediately before use in order to avoid loss of the elastic properties of the bow. The bow required special careful preparation and care. Often they were soaked in special brines, rubbed with compositions, the essence of which was kept secret.
The armament of the Russian archer should also include a special bracer (protecting from a blow with a released bowstring), worn by a right-handed person on his left hand, as well as half rings and ingenious mechanical devices that made it possible to pull the bowstring.
Often Russian soldiers used and crossbow, today better known as the crossbow.
Sometimes heavy, and sometimes light long spears served at the very beginning of the battle. If it was not possible in the first clash to hit the enemy from afar with an arrow, the warrior took up the sulitz - a short throwing spear, a melee weapon.
As the equestrian combatant approached the enemy, one weapon could replace another: from afar, he showered the enemy with arrows, approaching, sought to hit with an abandoned sulitz, then a spear and, finally, a saber or sword went into action. Although, rather, specialization came to the fore, when archers showered the enemy with arrows, spearmen "took them into spears", and "swordsmen" worked with a sword or saber to the point of fatigue.
The armament of Russian soldiers was not inferior to the best Western European and Asian models, it was distinguished by its versatility, reliability and the highest fighting qualities.
Unfortunately, the constant modernization of the best samples, sometimes carried out by not the best craftsmen, did not bring them to us, the distant descendants of the warriors who were once armed with them. On the other hand, the poor preservation of the ancient book wealth of Russia and the policy pursued by some influential layers of the Russian medieval state did not even bring to us any mention of the production of high-quality steels in Russia, the art of blacksmiths and shield-makers, the design of throwing weapons ...

Any settlement has borders that must be protected from enemy invasions; this need has always existed in large Slavic settlements. During the period of Ancient Russia, conflicts torn the country apart, it was necessary to fight not only with external threats, but also with fellow tribesmen. The unity and harmony between the princes helped to create a great state, which became defensible. Old Russian warriors stood under one banner and showed the whole world their strength and courage.

Druzhina

The Slavs were a peace-loving people, so the ancient Russian warriors did not stand out too much against the background of ordinary peasants. They stood up to defend their home with spears, axes, knives and clubs. Military equipment, weapons appear gradually, and they are more focused on protecting their owner than on attack. In the 10th century, several Slavic tribes united around the prince of Kyiv, who collects taxes and protects the controlled territory from the invasion of the steppes, Swedes, Byzantines, Mongols. A squad is being formed, the composition of which is 30% composed of professional military (often mercenaries: Varangians, Pechenegs, Germans, Hungarians) and militias (voi). During this period, the armament of the Old Russian warrior consisted of a club, a spear, and a sword. Lightweight protection does not restrict movement and provides mobility in combat and campaign. The main was the infantry, horses were used as pack animals and to deliver soldiers to the battlefield. The cavalry is formed after unsuccessful clashes with the steppes, who were excellent riders.

Protection

Old Russian wars wore shirts and ports common to the population of Russia in the 5th - 6th centuries, put on shoes in bast shoes. During the Russian-Byzantine war, the enemy was struck by the courage and courage of the "Rus", who fought without protective armor, hiding behind shields and using them at the same time as a weapon. Later, a “kuyak” appeared, which was essentially a sleeveless shirt, sheathed with plates from horse hooves or pieces of leather. Later, metal plates began to be used to protect the body from chopping blows and arrows of the enemy.

Shield

The armor of the ancient Russian warrior was light, which provided high maneuverability, but at the same time reduced the degree of protection. Large, the height of a man were used by the Slavic peoples since ancient times. They covered the warrior's head, so they had a hole for the eyes in the upper part. Since the 10th century, shields have been made in a round shape, upholstered with iron, covered with leather and decorated with various tribal symbols. According to the testimony of Byzantine historians, the Russians created a wall of shields, which were tightly closed to each other, and put their spears forward. Such tactics made it impossible for the advanced units of the enemy to break through to the rear of the Russian troops. After 100 years, the form adapts to a new branch of the military - cavalry. Shields become almond-shaped, have two mounts designed to be held in battle and on the march. With this type of equipment, ancient Russian warriors went on campaigns and stood up to defend their own lands before the invention of firearms. Many traditions and legends are associated with shields. Some of them are "winged" to this day. The fallen and wounded soldiers were brought home on shields; when fleeing, the retreating regiments threw them under the feet of the pursuers' horses. Prince Oleg hangs a shield on the gates of the defeated Constantinople.

Helmets

Until the 9th - 10th centuries, ancient Russian warriors wore ordinary hats on their heads, which did not protect against the chopping blows of the enemy. The first helmets found by archaeologists were made according to the Norman type, but they were not widely used in Russia. The conical shape has become more practical and therefore widely used. The helmet in this case was riveted from four metal plates, they were decorated with precious stones and feathers (for noble warriors or governors). This shape allowed the sword to slide off without causing much harm to a person, a balaclava made of leather or felt softened the blow. The helmet was changed due to additional protective devices: aventail (mail mesh), nose guard (metal plate). The use of protection in the form of masks (masks) in Russia was rare, most often these were trophy helmets, which were widely used in European countries. The description of the ancient Russian warrior, preserved in the annals, suggests that they did not hide their faces, but could shackle the enemy with a menacing look. Helmets with a half mask were made for noble and wealthy warriors, they are characterized by decorative details that did not carry protective functions.

chain mail

The most famous part of the vestments of the ancient Russian warrior, according to archaeological excavations, appears in the 7th - 8th centuries. Chain mail is a shirt of metal rings tightly connected to each other. At that time, it was quite difficult for craftsmen to make such protection, the work was delicate and took a long time. The metal was rolled into wire, from which rings were folded and welded, fixed together according to the 1 to 4 scheme. At least 20 - 25 thousand rings were spent on creating one chain mail, the weight of which ranged from 6 to 16 kilograms. For decoration, copper links were woven into the canvas. In the 12th century, stamping technology was used, when braided rings were flattened, which provided a large area of ​​​​protection. In the same period, chain mail became longer, additional elements of armor appeared: nagovitsya (iron, woven stockings), aventail (mesh to protect the neck), bracers (metal gloves). Quilted clothes were worn under the chain mail, softening the force of the blow. At the same time, they were used in Russia. For the manufacture, a base (shirt) made of leather was required, on which thin iron lamellas were tightly attached. Their length was 6 - 9 centimeters, width from 1 to 3. Plate armor gradually replaced chain mail and was even sold to other countries. In Russia, scaly, lamellar and chain mail armor were often combined. Yushman, Bakhterets were essentially chain mail, which, to increase the protective properties, were supplied with plates on the chest. At the beginning, a new type of armor appears - mirrors. Large metal plates, polished to a shine, as a rule, were worn over chain mail. On the sides and on the shoulders, they were connected with leather belts, often decorated with various kinds of symbols.

Weapon

The protective clothing of the ancient Russian warrior was not impenetrable armor, but it was distinguished by its lightness, which ensured greater maneuverability of warriors and shooters in battle conditions. According to information obtained from the historical sources of the Byzantines, the “Rusichs” were distinguished by their enormous physical strength. In the 5th - 6th centuries, the weapons of our ancestors were quite primitive, used for close combat. To cause significant damage to the enemy, it had a lot of weight and was additionally equipped with striking elements. The evolution of weapons took place against the background of technological progress and changes in the strategy of warfare. Throwing systems, siege engines, piercing and cutting iron tools have been used for many centuries, while their design has been constantly improved. Some innovations were adopted from other peoples, but Russian inventors and gunsmiths have always been distinguished by the originality of their approach and the reliability of the manufactured systems.

percussion

Weapons for close combat are known to all nations, at the dawn of the development of civilization, its main type was a club. This is a heavy club, which turned around with iron at the end. Some variants feature metal spikes or nails. Most often in Russian chronicles, along with the club, the flail is mentioned. Due to the ease of manufacture and effectiveness in combat, percussion weapons were widely used. The sword and saber partially replace it, but the militia and howls continue to use it in battle. Based on chronicle sources and excavation data, historians have created a typical portrait of a man who was called an ancient Russian warrior. Photographs of reconstructions, as well as images of heroes that have survived to this day, necessarily contain some type of impact weapon, most often the legendary mace acts as this.

Cutting, stabbing

In the history of ancient Russia, the sword is of great importance. It is not only the main type of weapon, but also a symbol of princely power. The knives used had several types, they were named according to the place they were worn: boot, belt, underside. They were used along with the sword and the ancient Russian warrior changes in the X century, the saber comes to replace the sword. The Russians appreciated its combat characteristics in battles with nomads, from whom they borrowed the uniform. Spears and spears are among the most ancient types of piercing weapons, which were successfully used by warriors as defensive and offensive weapons. When used in parallel, they evolved ambiguously. Rogatins are gradually being replaced by spears, which are being improved into the sulitsu. Not only peasants (voi and militias) fought with axes, but also the princely squad. For equestrian warriors, this type of weapon had a short handle, infantrymen (warriors) used axes on long shafts. Berdysh (an ax with a wide blade) in the XIII - XIV century becomes a weapon. Later it is transformed into a halberd.

Shooting

All means used daily for hunting and at home were used by Russian soldiers as military weapons. Bows were made from animal horn and suitable wood species (birch, juniper). Some of them were over two meters long. To store arrows, a shoulder quiver was used, which was made of leather, sometimes decorated with brocade, precious and semi-precious stones. For the manufacture of arrows, reeds, birches, reeds, and apple trees were used, to the torch of which an iron tip was attached. In the 10th century, the design of the bow was quite complex, and the process of its manufacture was laborious. Crossbows were a more effective type. Their minus was a lower rate of fire, but at the same time, the bolt (used as a projectile) did more damage to the enemy, breaking through armor when it hit. It was difficult to pull the bowstring of the crossbow, even strong warriors rested against the butt with their feet for this. In the 12th century, to speed up and facilitate this process, they began to use a hook that archers wore on their belts. Until the invention of firearms, bows were used in Russian troops.

Equipment

Foreigners who visited Russian cities of the 12th-13th centuries were surprised at how the soldiers were equipped. Despite the apparent bulkiness of the armor (especially for heavy horsemen), the riders easily coped with several tasks. Sitting in the saddle, the warrior could hold the reins (drive a horse), shoot from a bow or crossbow, and prepare a heavy sword for close combat. The cavalry was a maneuverable strike force, so the equipment of the rider and horse should be light, but durable. The chest, croup and sides of the war horse were covered with special covers, which were made of cloth with sewn iron plates. The equipment of the ancient Russian warrior was thought out to the smallest detail. Saddles made of wood made it possible for the archer to turn in the opposite direction and shoot at full speed, while controlling the direction of the horse's movement. Unlike the European warriors of that time, who were fully armored, the light armor of the Russians was focused on battles with nomads. The nobles, princes, kings had weapons and armor for combat and parade, which were richly decorated and equipped with the symbols of the state. They received foreign ambassadors and went on holidays.

"Good must be with fists". And sometimes with a flail, a berdash and a horn... We are revising the arsenal of the Russian warrior.

"Sword-hundred-heads-from-the-shoulders"

True or a fairy tale, but Russian heroes could cut the enemy in half with a sword along with a horse. It is not surprising that a real "hunt" was conducted for Russian swords. However, unlike the sword obtained from the enemy in battle, the blade seized from the mound never brought good luck to its owner. Only wealthy warriors could afford to forge a sword. The most famous, for example, in the 9th century was the blacksmith Lutoda. The master forged high quality damask unique swords. But mostly foreign craftsmen made swords, and the most popular were Carolingian swords, the blade of which was mainly steel blades welded onto a metal base. Warriors of modest means were armed with cheaper all-iron swords. Dales were fired along the blade of the weapon, which lightened its weight and increased strength. Over time, the swords became shorter (up to 86 cm) and slightly lighter (up to a kilogram), which is not surprising: try to chop for 30 minutes with a one and a half kilogram meter sword. True, there were especially hardy warriors who wielded a two-kilogram sword 120 cm long. The weapon was put into a sheath upholstered in leather or velvet, which was decorated with gold or silver notches. Each sword received a name at “birth”: Basilisk, Gorynya, Kitovras, etc.

"The saber is sharper, so it's faster"

From the 9th-10th centuries, Russian wars, mostly horsemen, began to use a lighter and more “agile” saber, which comes to our ancestors from nomads. By the XIII century, the saber "conquers" not only the south and southeast of Russia, but also its northern limits. The sabers of noble warriors were decorated with gold, black, and silver. The first sabers of Russian warriors reached a meter in length, their curvature reached 4.5 cm. By the 13th century, the saber stretched 10-17 cm, and the curvature sometimes reaches 7 cm. This curvature made it possible to deliver a sliding blow, from which longer and deeper wounds. More often, sabers were all-steel, they were forged from blanks of carburized iron, after which they were subjected to repeated hardening using a very complex technology. Sometimes non-monolithic blades were made - two strips were welded or one strip was welded into another. By the 17th century, both domestic and imported sabers were in use. However, our masters looked up to foreigners, first of all, to the Turks.

"Stunning Blow"

Kisten appeared in Russia in the 10th century and firmly held its position until the 17th century. More often, the weapon was a short belt whip with a ball attached to the end. Sometimes the ball was "decorated" with spikes. The Austrian diplomat Herberstein described the flail of Grand Duke Vasily III as follows: “on his back behind his belt, the prince had a special weapon - a stick a little longer than an elbow, to which a leather belt was nailed, on its edge there is a mace in the form of some kind of stump, decorated on all sides with gold ". The flail, with its mass of 250 grams, was an excellent light weapon, which turned out to be very useful in the thick of the fight. A deft and sudden blow to the enemy's helmet (helmet), and the road is clear. This is where the verb "stun" comes from. In general, our soldiers were able to suddenly "amaze" the enemy.

"Ax head, shake the gut"

In Russia, the ax was used primarily by foot warriors. On the butt of the ax there was a strong and long spike, often bent down, with the help of which the warrior easily pulled the enemy off the horse. In general, the ax can be considered one of the varieties of axes - a very common chopping weapon. Everyone owned axes: both princes, and princely warriors, and militias, both on foot and on horseback. The only difference was that the foot warriors preferred heavy axes, and the horsemen preferred axes. Another type of ax is the reed, which armed the infantry. This weapon was a long blade mounted on a long ax handle. So, in the 16th century, archers rebelled with just such weapons in their hands.

"If there was a mace, there would be a head"

The parent of both maces and clubs can be considered a club - an ancient Russian weapon of "mass destruction". The club was preferred by the militias and the rebellious people. For example, in Pugachev's army there were people armed only with clubs, with which they easily crushed the skulls of enemies. The best clubs were made not from any tree, but from oak, at worst - from elm or birch, while taking the strongest place where the trunk passed into the roots. To enhance the destructive power of the club, it was “decorated” with nails. Such a club will not slip! The mace, on the other hand, was the next “evolutionary step” of the club, the tip (top) of which was made of copper alloys, and lead was poured inside. A club differs from a mace in the geometry of the pommel: a pear-shaped spiked weapon in the hands of the heroes is a mace, and a weapon with a cubic pommel, “decorated” with large triangular spikes, is a mace.

"The hand of the fighters is tired of stabbing"

A spear is a universal weapon, military and hunting. The spear was a steel (damask) or iron tip mounted on a strong shaft. The length of the spear reached 3 meters. Sometimes part of the shaft was forged in metal so that the enemy could not cut the spear. It is interesting that the tip could reach a length of half a meter, there were cases of using a whole “sword” on a stick, with which they not only pricked, but also chopped. They loved spears and horsemen, but they used a different way of fighting than medieval knights. It should be noted that the ram attack appeared in Russia only in the XII century, which was caused by the weighting of the armor. Until this moment, the horsemen struck from above, having previously swung their arm strongly. For throwing, the warriors used sulits - light spears up to one and a half meters long. Sulica, in its striking effect, was something between a spear and an arrow fired from a bow.

"A tight bow is a friend of the heart"

Owning a bow required special virtuosity. It was not for nothing that the archery children practiced day after day by archery at the stumps. Often, archers wrapped a rawhide belt around their hand, which made it possible to avoid significant injuries - an awkwardly fired arrow took with it an impressive piece of skin with meat. On average, archers shot at 100-150 meters, with great diligence, the arrow flew twice as far. In the middle of the 19th century, during the excavation of a mound in the Bronnitsky district, a burial place of a warrior was found, in whose right temple an iron arrowhead was firmly seated. Scientists have suggested that the warrior was killed by an ambush archer. The chronicles describe the amazing speed with which archers fired arrows. There was even such a saying “Shoot, how to make a strand” - the arrows flew with such frequency that they formed a continuous line. The bow and arrows were an integral part of the allegorical speech: “Like an arrow hid from a bow”, it means “quickly left”, when they said “like an arrow from a bow”, they meant “straight”. But the “singing arrow” is not a metaphor, but a reality: holes were made on the arrowheads, which made certain sounds in flight.

History has almost no evidence of the upbringing of future warriors in Russia, although it is known that the art of war among the ancient Slavs was extremely developed, this was noted by the ancient Greeks, Romans-Byzantines and even the Romans.

The testimonies of strangers and the conspiracies of grandmothers-whisperers have come down to us, speaking of the many dangers that awaited the boys: “Otherwise, be safe: from an ax, from a squeaker, from Tatar peaks, from a red-hot arrow, from a wrestler and a fist fighter ...”

Testimony of foreigners

The Roman writer Publius Tacitus in the 1st century testified that the tribes of the Wends (Eastern Slavs) "carry shields and move very quickly on foot." So the main force of the Slavs were detachments of foot soldiers armed with spears and shields.

The emperor of the "Romans" Mauritius the Strategist in the VI century pointed out: "The tribes of the Slavs ... are not inclined to obedience, they are extremely brave and hardy ... their young men are excellent at using weapons." The Byzantine commander of the 10th century, Nicephorus Foka, attributed his success on the island of Crete, when his elite army defeated the Arab pirates, to the participation of "well-trained Ross and Tauro-Scythians" in the sortie.

Historians are inclined to believe that until the 10th century the state structure of the Slavs was military democracy, everything was decided by the council of elders, the general assembly, and during the war - the prince-commander.

The Romans pointed out the difference between the Slavs and the Roman army: among the Slavs, every man was a warrior, and there was only one division by age - the soldiers were divided into youths and veterans.

Such a division reached the 10th century: the princely squad was divided into a paternal squad and a junior squad. The youngest was recruited from youths of 10-12 years old, in peacetime teenagers served older soldiers, in wartime they gained experience and gradually replaced their fathers.

Education began with tonsure

It is known that the upbringing of the future warrior began at the age of two and coincided with the rite of tonsure - when the boy's hair was touched by scissors for the first time. On this day, the child was put on a horse for the first time and watched how he behaved: the future brave warrior had to cling tightly to the horse's mane so as not to fall.

At the age of four, the “uncle” began to take care of the prince’s sons - an experienced warrior, warrior of the prince, who was responsible for his upbringing and often became a mentor to the boy instead of his deceased father. In simple families, the father and older brothers took care of the children.

The Tale of Bygone Years tells how Olga's son, Prince Svyatoslav, participated in the campaign as a child: he threw a spear at the Drevlyans, but it, having flown "between the horse's ears," fell under his feet, "for Svyatoslav was still a child." The commanders Asmud and Sveneld hurried to the rescue of the young man, supporting the boy’s decision: “The prince has already begun; let's follow, squad, for the prince.

From wooden swords to weapons

Children were accustomed to weapons from childhood, which is confirmed by the finds of archaeologists who find children's wooden swords in the excavations of ancient settlements, the shape of which repeats adult weapons. It can be assumed that it was wooden weapons that were used to teach children and adolescents.

In addition to the children's sword, the boys' toys were a horse, boats, tops, sleds and balls - all this developed dexterity and strength. The boys were also given real weapons and did it quite early - a child could receive the first sword or dagger at the age of 6–7. They were taught horseback riding, archery, wielding a spear, sword, throwing knives and axes. Writer Sergei Maksimov believed that even feast could serve as training for young warriors.

Agility developed in games

The creator of the Slavic-Goritsa wrestling, Alexander Belov, who studied military culture in Russia, noted that children's fun played a training role: playing King of the Hill, capturing an ice fortress, fist fights, swings, bast shoes and riding downhill brought up endurance, strength, dexterity and the ability to take care of yourself.

Another Russian fun that taught the young man to war was hunting, which many families lived on. Hunting taught to read tracks, choose a place for an ambush, use natural shelters, wait patiently, sitting in swamps among midges, quickly kill even a large and strong animal. It was a special valor to go to a bear with a horn - a thick spear with a sharp and very long tip.

Don't sleep and rely on God

Of course, the strongest survived in battles, and many young fighters died in the very first battles. But those who survived learned quickly and became strong and very cautious warriors.

The Kyiv prince Vladimir Monomakh recalled that in his youth, the tours overturned him twice with his horse, a deer and an elk gored him with their horns, another elk trampled him underfoot, a boar tore his sword from his hip, and a bear, jumping on a horse, knocked him down together with prince and bit his leg. Many times the prince fell from his horse, broke his arms and legs, "but God saved him."

In "Teaching Children" the prince said that he made 83 military campaigns, captured 300 Polovtsian princes, executed more than two hundred, and set a hundred free. He urged the children not to be lazy, not to indulge in drinking or gluttony, to place guards themselves at night, to go to bed next to the soldiers, to get up early, to keep weapons at hand, to beware of lies most of all and always and in everything rely on God.