Body armor: history, classification and development prospects. Domestic army bulletproof vests Additional properties of protective equipment

Today we are considering Russian body armor, classes, device and history of occurrence.

An armored vest is a personal protective equipment, the purpose of which is to protect the torso from being wounded by bullets, grenade fragments and elements environment during explosions.

To date, it is not known for certain who came up with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bprotecting the body of a warrior with armor. However, many peoples in ancient times used various protective garments.

So, the soldiers of Ancient Greece (hoplites) and the legionnaires of Rome wore bronze cuirasses (rather expensive material for that time), which were made in the form of a muscular body of an athlete. It should be noted that the muscle relief was used not only for the aesthetic beauty of protection, but also for practical. The fact is that all transitions in the structure of the torso (chest muscles, press) were stiffeners, which strengthened the structure.

Antique armor - cuirass

After the fall of the Roman Empire, many crafts fell into decline, including blacksmithing. That's why for a long time warriors used less effective and relatively heavy chain mail for protection, coupled with fettering iron armor. In the 13th century, protection was invented in the form of metal plates lined with cloth. In form, such protection resembled a modern body armor. The brigantine was worn under chain mail mostly by poor warriors who could not afford to purchase protective armor.

And although knightly armor allowed units to successfully win battles, it turned out to be powerless against the emerging firearms. But the imperfection of guns could be overcome only by the swiftness of movement. To do this, the soldiers had to abandon heavy armor and return to cuirasses in the form of a shell (two oval plates for the back and abdomen, pulled together with leather straps). Breastplates were used by almost all European countries, including Russian soldiers in the war of 1812.

The device of modern body armor

Modern bulletproof vests in Russia differ from the old prototypes in ergonomics and high resistance to certain influences. However, in their design they are similar to cuirasses and brigantines, as they include sections to protect the back and chest. They are also connected by shoulder and side straps (velcro, zippers, buttons).

The body armor consists of ergonomic elements based on UHMWPE materials, titanium, steel and ceramic-metal plates, an anti-ricochet layer and damping pads.

The anti-ricochet layer is a rubberized layer 5-10 mm thick, which is designed to protect the body of a fighter in the event of a bullet or fragment tearing out the outer layer of the body armor (protective plate or part of the weapon), which can cause injury.

UHMWPE material, armid fibers and Rusar fabric are superior in all respects to such analogues as Twaron (Europe) and Kevlar (USA). Domestic materials are not only better, but also ahead of foreign ones in many physical and chemical properties.

“UHMWPE material is an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, characterized by buoyancy and high resistance to ballistic strikes. The material is 40% more durable than Kevlar and Twaron, which are popular abroad, and 10 times stronger than steel.”

Most of the vests produced today in Russia are designed on a modular basis, which allows you to increase or decrease the area of ​​protection, depending on the situation. They can also differ in the appearance of the cover, which is designed to distribute armor plates. In some cases, it can be used as a vest for carrying grenades, magazines with cartridges and other things. However, the fabric for all types of body armor is made from heat-resistant and waterproof fabric. Also, covers differ in cut depending on the type of wearing - secretive with cut shoulders, open with uncut shoulders.

Bulletproof vests are divided into classes that differ in the level of protection. So, they can be equipped with additional shock-absorbing inserts (anti-shock), shoulder pads, sections to protect the groin, neck area and screens to protect the side parts of the torso. In addition, bulletproof vests are equipped with a special ventilation system on the inside of the vest, which consists of polyethylene foam strips.

Bulletproof vests of Russia: protection classes

Bulletproof vests belonging to the first class consist only of fabric layers (from 5 to 10), designed to protect against pistols of the PM or "" type. The weight of the vest varies from 1.5 to 3 kg. The main disadvantage is that such protection is easily pierced by a sharp object like a stylet or an awl due to the expansion of the fabric fibers.

1 protection class

The second class includes fabric vests, reinforced with metal plates, which are located in the most significant places to save life. Weight - from 3 to 5 kg. Such protection withstands 9 mm bullets from TT pistols.

The third class of body armor is distinguished by reduced comfort characteristics due to an increase in the number of fabric layers to 25 and reinforcement of the structure with armor plates over the entire area, as well as a damping pad. Weight - from 9 to 11 kg. The inconvenience of the vest is offset by protection against submachine guns such as "Uzi", PPSh and other light small arms.

Bulletproof vests of Russia of 1,2 and 3 classes are available to civilians and are intended for covert wearing under clothing. Often they are used by public people, employees of private and public services security.

The fourth and fifth class vests are intended for use by police, army units and special forces. Distinctive feature of this type of vests is a structurally provided opportunity to quickly take off the vest in case of operational need. These are professional products that cannot boast of the comfort of movement. But in spite of enough heavy weight armor-piercing protection, vests of these classes can withstand shots from a Kalashnikov assault rifle, as well as a grenade explosion in the immediate vicinity of a fighter. In addition, bulletproof vests of these classes are equipped with additional protection for the groin area and a “collar” (neck protection).

4 protection class

The modern market offers various bulletproof vests made in the USA, Germany or Israel. And although they differ in appearance, they are produced almost everywhere according to the same principle and from materials that are similar in their functionality and strength. But, as already mentioned, Russian products are significantly superior to world analogues. It should be understood that body armor does not provide complete protection. Often, the injury received from the impact of a bullet on protection is much more serious than the injury.

We examined the bulletproof vests of Russia, now you will learn a little more about them.

The concept of "inventor" is usually associated exclusively with men. However, many important inventions were made by the fairer sex. Just about this in our traditionally "male" world is modestly silent. But among the "female" inventions - a circular saw, an automobile silencer, a periscope for submarines, body armor.

So, here is a list of the most notable female inventions.

Astrolabe.

Who has not heard about the most ancient astronomical instrument with which scientists measured the coordinates of celestial bodies. But much less is known about the fact that the Greek woman Hypatia of Alexandria invented the astrolabe in 370 BC. Meanwhile, this amazing woman was at the same time a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician...

Submarine periscope.

And this invention, which determines the distance to the observed objects, surprisingly, was created by a woman. The periscope was patented in 1845 by Sarah Mather.

A circular saw.

The first example of such a saw was created in 1810 by Tabitha Babbitt. Before that, logs were sawn with a two-handed saw, while moving it forward, the log was sawn, and if it moved back, nothing happened to the tree ... The circular saw made it possible to avoid this waste of effort and energy and subsequently became widely used in the sawmill industry.

Car wipers".

Oddly enough, we owe their appearance to a woman. It was a certain Mary Anderson. In 1903, she drew attention to the driver, who, during a blizzard, had to stop the car almost every minute to get out and shovel snow from the windshield.

Automobile muffler.

By the middle of the second decade of the twentieth century, there were already enough cars that their noise began to bother people. This problem was solved by El Dolores Jones, who in 1917 invented the acoustic filter for automobiles.

Dishwasher.

She appeared back in 1886. The author of the invention was Josephine Cochrane. The woman found that during normal hand washing, the dishes often break. As a result, she lost several plates from her favorite porcelain service. Then Josephine thought about creating a special device that would wash dishes with high quality, but not harm her. She succeeded, but the invention was recognized only after forty years.

Canned meat.

They were invented, by the way, by our compatriot Nadezhda Kozhina. For the first time, the method of preparing such canned food was demonstrated by her in 1873 at the World Exhibition in Vienna. For which Kozhina received a medal.

Champagne "Veuve Clicquot".

The name of this pink champagne was given in honor of a completely real woman, Nicole Barbier Clicquot, who in 1808 developed the "remuage" technology, which allows to rid an alcoholic drink of sediment and make it crystal clear, which significantly improved its quality.

Bra.

The patent for this item of women's wardrobe familiar to us was patented in 1889 by the Frenchwoman Ermini Cadol, the owner of a corset workshop. The first such product was called "le Bien-Etre" ("well-being"). The cups of the bra were supported by two satin ribbons, and at the back the design was attached to

Diapers.

The first waterproof diapers were made in 1917 by housewife Marion Donovan. Until then, babies had only rubber sliders that squeezed the skin and caused diaper rash.

Bulletproof vest.

Bulletproof vests are based on Kevlar, a synthetic material five times stronger than steel. And it was developed in 1965 by Dr. Stephanie Kwolek.

Silicone.

Who would have thought that this material was invented by… a sculptor! It was a woman named Patricia Billings, who set out to protect her creations from destruction. In 1970, she succeeded in creating hermetic plaster. In addition, the material proved to be resistant to fire.

However, the technology of that time did not allow mass production of armor of this quality. Mass armor, especially infantry, protected from bullets much worse. Because of this, and also in connection with the transition from a civilian army to a recruit army, by the beginning of the 18th century, armor in the armies of European states had almost completely disappeared, remaining only in service with heavy cavalry - cuirassiers, as well as in sapper units (sappenpanzer).

Regarding the bullet resistance of such protective equipment, the following data are given in the literature of those years. An ordinary iron cuirass from the time of the Napoleonic Wars made its way from a gun at any distance less than 75 fathoms (160 m), and from a pistol - less than 18 fathoms (about 40 m). The steel cuirass "made of forged German steel" made its way from a gun with only 54 fathoms (115 m), and from a pistol with 18 fathoms it made its way only half of the bullets and did not break through from 9 fathoms (20 m). Designed for sappers, a heavy cuirass from one front plate (breastplate), “forged from iron together with steel”, thicker than ordinary steel, did not break even from 9 fathoms, although after 18 fathoms a rifle bullet made a noticeable dent in it. At the same time, a rifle bullet fired from the same 18 sazhens pierced through four ordinary iron cuirasses placed one after another, after which it deepened into a wooden board located behind them to its diameter, or two steel ones, and made a recess in the third.

Thus, the protective properties of armor strongly depended on its quality, and, consequently, on its cost: high-quality armor made of hardened steel had quite decent bullet resistance, which could not be said at all about mass production, which conditionally protected only from pistol bullets or random rifle bullets at all. out their trajectory.

1900s - 1940s

Bulletproof vest test (Washington, September 1923)

First standard US Army vest ( M1951 USMC Armored Vest), produced in quantities of 31,000, weighed 7.75 pounds (3.51 kg), was made of nylon and could be reinforced with several aluminum plates. next option ( M1952) was made from 12 layers of ballistic nylon in a waterproof vinyl fabric case and weighed 8 pounds (3.6 kg). The spread of body armor in the US Army falls on the period of the Vietnam War 1964-1973. , at this time nylon becomes the standard vest M-1969 Fragmentation Protective Body Armor weighing 8.5 pounds (3.85 kg).

In the USSR, the first body armor ( 6B1) was developed in 1954 at the All-Union Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM). In 1957, the vest was accepted for the supply of the armed forces, but did not go into mass production (in total, about 1,500 pieces were made). At the end of 1978, a more advanced version of the 6B2 was developed.

In the early 1970s in the West (" Barrier Vest"in the USA) and in the USSR (vest ZhZT-71) developed the first specialized body armor for law enforcement officers.

1990s - 2000s

A new stage in the development of body armor began in the 1990s.

Current state

Currently, the improvement of personal protective equipment continues in several areas:

Protection classes

The action of a bullet is usually denoted by the protection class, which is set based on the caliber, type and mass of the bullet, as well as its speed. Ballistic requirements for bulletproof vests for the armed forces and the police are mainly set by state standards (for example, the standard of the German Police Department, the US National Institute of Justice, etc.). In Russia, they were developed with the participation of the All-Russian Research Institute for Standardization of the State Standard of Russia. According to Russian GOST R 50744-95 (taking into account changes from 09/01/2002), bulletproof vests are divided into the following protection classes:

Each next class also protects against the weapons of all previous classes. In addition, there are special body armor:

• for protection against edged weapons;
• heavy armored suits for sappers.

Protection classes DIN (Germany)

• VMR/WK - bullet with solid metal jacket and soft core
• MsF - flat head brass bullet
• WK+P - bullet with soft core and armor-piercing tip
• VMS/WK - pointed bullet with solid metal jacket and soft core
• VMS/HK - pointed bullet with a solid metal jacket and a hard core

NIJ protection classes ( National Institute US Justice)

• AP - armor-piercing
• FMJ - solid metal jacket
• JSP - wrapped with soft tip
• LRHV - for a long rifle with a high muzzle velocity
• RN - round tip
• SWC - with narrowed soft threaded part

Protection classes CEN (European standard)

Approximate correspondence of the classes of protective structures of body armor
according to the standards of Russia (GOST), USA (NIJ), Germany (DIN) and European standard (CEN)

The exact correspondence of protection classes VPAM / BSW2006 (Germany), NIJ (USA), GOST (Russia) is difficult to implement from a technical point of view. Test conditions in practice differ in many parameters:
- differences in the weapons and ammunition used
- the number of shots on the object
- shot spacing technique
- temperature and atmospheric conditions
As a result, according to some indicators, the characteristics of ballistic protection of various classification standards are comparable, according to others they diverge greatly.

The history of hostilities that have been and are taking place now has given impetus to the development of individual protective equipment for each soldier or other people. According to statistics, the most effective way to save life during hostilities is an army bulletproof vest. This allows you to keep the human body intact when exposed to bullets of various calibers, fragments from grenades and shells, as well as knife blows.

In many countries, the production of bulletproof vests began almost simultaneously, which were mainly used for law enforcement agencies and army units. The technologies that are used to obtain a more reliable protection system are constantly being improved, and a large amount of money is spent for this.

The main characteristics of body armor

To have high protective properties, protections must have exceptional characteristics in terms of resistance to impact from a bullet or other objects. They also have other important features that allow you to use them without harm to health.

The best bulletproof vests have a certain set of characteristics:

• The required level of protection according to the class in which it was manufactured.
• Convenient operation.
• camouflage appearance.
• Practicality in use.
• Fabric cover of the increased durability.
• Manufacturability during modernization.
• Convenient weight indicators.
• Test conformity certificate.

Body armor, the price of which is quite high, must meet almost all of the listed characteristics. If the main ones are not met, then such products should be discarded and not allowed for sale.

Protection classes

Since the protection of a person in different conditions should involve different degrees, then, accordingly, all body armor should be divided into protection classes. There are seven in total. The simplest and least effective is the first class of body armor. The higher the class, the more reliable the protection.

1 class

This is the initial level at which the human body can protect itself from minor threats. Bulletproof vest of the 1st protection class is able to protect the body from light blows with a knife and dagger, as well as ensure safety from small-caliber bullets. It will also withstand being hit by a bullet from a 9mm pistol from a long distance. The total weight of such body armor does not exceed 2.5 kg. This type can be used to protect against pneumatic weapons and other small-caliber pistols. Since metal plates are not used in such a means of protection, it can only protect with a not very strong blow with a knife.

Grade 2

A bulletproof vest of the 2nd protection class is able to protect against bullets from a small-caliber pistol and pneumatic weapons. It also withstands being hit by a steel-jacketed bullet. protective layer consists of 7 layers of fabric, which are a rigid plexus. The second class can also protect against shot from a hunting rifle. If you use this body armor against knife threats, it will be more effective, but still, with a strong blow, it will not be able to save a person. The advantage of such body armor is its light weight of 3 kg and the possibility of using it under clothing due to its compact size.

3rd grade

The body armor of the 3rd protection class has steel plates and more than 25 layers of durable fabric in its design. There are also special softening pads that, when hit, neutralize the force of impact. This body armor is able to withstand a hit from a reinforced bullet from a pistol, as well as a blow from a knife. It also protects against bullets from smoothbore rifles. This class of body armor should guarantee protection against bullets from the AK-47 assault rifle. Its weight is no more than 9 kg. It is usually worn over army uniforms or other tight clothing.

4th grade

The body armor of the 4th protection class is similar in design to the previous one, but it has more protection in the chest, back and abdomen. This class reliably protects both from pistols and from sniper SVD rifles. It can withstand 5.45 and 7.62 caliber bullets, which have a soft core. This means of protection is mainly used in law enforcement agencies as a basic bulletproof vest.

5th grade

Bulletproof vest 5 protection class is one of the most reliable. It can withstand 5.45 and 7.62 caliber hits. When protecting against such bullets, the following situations are possible: ordinary bullets pierce from a distance of 5 meters, armor-piercing - from 10 meters, a pistol bullet is held point-blank. The weight of body armor can vary from 11 to 20 kilograms, depending on the modification and materials used.

6th grade

Bulletproof vest of the 6th protection class is able to withstand a direct hit from all types of sniper rifle bullets. It will also eliminate the impact from a bullet with a steel thermally reinforced core. The weight of such body armor can be more than 20 kilograms.

7th grade

The body armor of the 7th protection class is a modified version of the previous class, and it comes with reinforced armor in the form of It is installed in front and behind the body armor.

Barrier displacement

Bulletproof vests, protection classes of which are 3 or more, are endowed with unique characteristic- the so-called behind-the-barrier displacement of armor. It shows how many millimeters the sheet of armor sags when a sustained bullet hits it. This displacement can be more traumatic if it is large than the bullet itself. The fact is that a large indentation from a bullet can also cause damage to the body, and as a result, fractures, ruptures and other injuries are possible. It should be noted that the Russian GOST very strictly regulates the maximum displacement. It should not exceed 20 millimeters. Therefore, if you need to choose bulletproof vests, the protection classes of which are higher than the second, you must first make sure of the magnitude of their behind-the-barrier displacement. This can be done by testing in the field.

Exploitation

In order for the body armor to protect a person from possible injuries and not hinder movement, it is made as comfortable as possible to wear. Protective parts should not interfere with movement or any other actions. Therefore, protective equipment is mainly made from fabric into which metal plates are installed. The material is in most cases durable and prevents sagging constituent parts. In addition, the bulletproof vest, as a rule, has various pockets and fasteners that increase its functionality.

In order for the protective equipment to be fully sized for each person, special puffs and adjustment straps are provided. They allow you to more accurately fit the body armor to the body and make it more convenient to use.

The external coloring is a drawing that is applied to the uniforms of all soldiers. There are also separate color options adapted to the specific areas in which the operation will take place.

Practicality

In order to avoid great inconvenience during use, body armor must be quickly put on and taken off. Basically, all models use fastening due to Velcro. They hold the vest well on the body and are quickly disconnected if necessary.

It is worth noting that body armor, the protection classes of which are the same, can be completely different in terms of appearance. This is due to different companies that are engaged in the production of such protective equipment. There are also separate modifications for use by tankers, snipers or other specialized military. For example, armored vest of the 6th protection class, which is designed for infantry, is absolutely not suitable for tankers. There is very little space in the tank cockpit, and the entry hatches are small, so they need a special body armor with reduced dimensions for convenient operation. Also, many industries where personal protective equipment is needed require a separate model that would be adapted to the conditions of use.

Weight indicators

If the bulletproof vest weighs too much, then its effectiveness will not be high. Therefore, special alloys are being developed and new technologies are being used to reduce the weight of protective equipment. As a rule, a weight of more than 25 kilograms is already considered large and significantly affects the maneuverability of a soldier. For maximum lightness, plates made of titanium or titanium alloys can be used.

Kevlar body armor

There are special means of protection in which the main component is not metal, but a special fiber. It is five times stronger than steel. In addition, such bulletproof vests are much lighter than analogues with steel plates. Since the basis is a fabric of great strength, the weight characteristics of such a means of protection are the best.

The material used was originally planned to be used for car tires, but when the developers saw its exceptional characteristics, it was decided to introduce it into the military industry. This material was developed independently by different countries. Thus, the analogue of Kevlar is the domestic durable fabric TSVM DZh. It was designed specifically for use in bulletproof vests and has proven itself well.

Certificate of conformity based on tests

Body armor classes indicate the degree of protection and must be tested in a special laboratory. Conditions are created in it when there is a direct hit by bullets of the caliber that theoretically the body armor should withstand. This can create various situations for rebound or other imitations. After exposure to the bulletproof vest, experts inspect the site of damage and make a conclusion about the suitability of the material and its compliance with the declared protection class. In this case, situations may arise when the material withstands a direct hit, but the transcendental displacement turned out to be too large. In this case, it is considered that the protection did not work, as it caused a lot of harm by its secondary action.

Compliance of Russian means of protection with foreign analogues

All bulletproof vests that are manufactured in different countries, must adhere to the rules prescribed in the relevant GOSTs. They regulate the main indicators of armor when exposed to firearms, fragmentation grenades, knives and other types of strikes. In this regard, almost all manufacturers produce body armor with the same protection. But at the same time, the Russian GOST is more critical in terms of the magnitude of the transcendental displacement. In other countries, larger offsets are possible than provided for by the Russian standard.

New technologies in manufacturing

Scientists from England have developed the new kind bulletproof vests that have liquid armor in them. A special substance is placed between several layers of Kevlar fabric and is a mixture of very strong nanoparticles in a special liquid. To the touch, this armor is soft and light. But if a bullet hits it, then the point of contact instantly hardens and does not allow it to penetrate. This development has been developed, and models of body armor of this type have already been made.

One of the new materials being tested is graphene. It has exceptional properties of thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, as well as great strength under force. However big problems in adapting this material to protective equipment, the date of its introduction into production is significantly removed. According to its characteristics, it is several times stronger than Kevlar and has a very fine structure.

Additional protection features

Almost all bulletproof vests that use good protection with steel plates prevent a person from being hit by fragments of grenades or shells. At the same time, it is impossible to predict how the fragment will behave, and therefore this protection is considered conditional. Also body armor, protection classes of which are 6 and 7, are able to withstand swipe from a professional combat knife. But this is subject to direct hit into the protection plate.

IN Lately body armor models began to be produced, which have additional lining to protect the neck, shoulders and groin areas. Such protection is much more effective than the others, but the mobility of the person who uses such a vest decreases. Basically, these defenses are used for special cases, when, for example, a soldier does not need much maneuverability.

Features of the material for body armor

When used during combat operations, there are many different factors that affect body armor. It can be fire impact, chemical, temperature or other. In order for these conditions not to reduce the protective effect, it is necessary that the vest withstand such an effect. To do this, the material is made non-combustible and immune to chemicals. Also, body armor can be used both at a temperature of +40 degrees, and during frost down to -30 degrees.

For Kevlar vests, an additional condition is resistance to detergents and exposure sunlight. To do this, they use special impregnations from various substances that increase the resistance to these factors.

Prices for protective equipment

The average cost of an army body armor, which is accepted as standard equipment, is about 15 thousand rubles. Also, depending on the desire, various modifications can be carried out by adding steel or ceramic plates to the body armor. The price of the product may vary depending on the manufacturer. Also has great importance degree of protection. As a rule, body armor, the price of which is the highest, is equipped with maximum protection and is very convenient to use.

Features of protective equipment

One of the features that has kevlar body armor with ceramic inserts, there is a high probability of its characteristics changing during long-term storage. They can reduce the protective properties of the vest. At the same time, in order to make sure that everything is normal and there are no defects, it is necessary to check the protective plates using X-rays. Only in this case it is possible to detect hidden defects.

Specialized body armor

For the personal safety of a person, several modifications of vests have been developed that can be worn under clothing and they will not interfere with this. First of all, they are used by bodyguards and high-ranking people. Such protective equipment is disguised as a vest, coat, or simply put on under a shirt in the form of a T-shirt. However, it is not always convenient to do business with them, since significant weight creates certain difficulties. There are also separate developments of body armor for children. Their weight does not exceed 2 kilograms, and this is a big plus for those who use them.

The women were not spared either. For them, several models of bulletproof vests have also been developed that can be hidden. They are made with an anatomical fit and are comfortable to use. However, it is not possible to increase the protection class for such vests more than the fourth.

Finally

So, the classes of body armor characterize the degree of their protection from bullets and other threats to life. Depending on the need, various protection options for a person are used. The most common are 4 and 5 classes of body armor. Such funds protect a person well and do not create great inconvenience when used.

Each type of protective equipment is certified by a special laboratory, which, based on the results, can issue a certificate of conformity to the protection class. It is also worth noting the wide spread of various modifications of body armor, which are used by individuals due to their professional activities.

They do not emit a militant roar, do not sparkle with a surface polished to a mirror shine, they are not decorated with plumes and chased coats of arms - and often they are generally disguised under jackets. But today, without this plain-looking armor, it is simply unthinkable to send soldiers into battle or provide minimal security for VIPs ...

Who first came up with the idea of ​​​​putting armor on a warrior that protects him from the mortal blow of the enemy is still a moot point.

in the tree hoplites (heavily armed ancient Greek infantry) as well as warriors ancient rome, wore bronze cuirasses, while these cuirasses had the shape of a muscular human body, which, in addition to aesthetic considerations and psychological impact on the enemy, also made the armor more durable, since these changes in the section play the role of improvised stiffening ribs.

In terms of strength, bronze at that time was definitely more effective, due to its viscosity, because the basics of metallurgy and the properties of metals, mankind had only begun to comprehend in full, and the steel plates of armor were still fragile and unreliable.

Bronze armor, including solid-cast cuirasses, was used in the Roman army until the beginning of our era. The disadvantage was, in its high cost, therefore, in many respects, the Roman army owed its victories to the superiority of its infantry in security against the enemy, who did not have effective protection against melee and throwing weapons.
The fall of Rome led to the decline of narrow craft. In the Dark Ages, the main and practically the only
the armor of the knights was chain mail or scales. It was not as effective as a cuirass, and rather inconvenient due to its weight, but still allowed, to a certain extent, to reduce losses in hand-to-hand combat.

In the XIII century, for the efforts The so-called “brigantine”, made of metal plates lined with cloth, began to be used to change chain mail.

Brigantine than- they were structurally similar to modern body armor, however, the quality of the then available materials used in their manufacture did not allow effective protection from a direct, piercing blow in close combat. By the end of the 14th century, chain mail began to be replaced by more effective armor, and the brigantine became the lot of poor warriors making up light infantry and.

For some time, knightly cavalry, well protected by steel armor, was an almost ideal means of deciding the outcome of any battle, until firearms put an end to their dominance on the battlefield.

The heavy armored knight turned out to be powerless in front of the buckshot and often only made it heavier bullet wounds- bullets and buckshot, breaking through a thin steel breastplate, passing to take off, ricocheted from the armor, inflicting additional mortal wounds.

Way out of this situation There was only one ration - due to the imperfection of firearms, associated with the pace and accuracy of shooting, only the speed and maneuverability of the cavalry could save the situation, which means that the heavy armor worn by the knight was already a burden.

Therefore, only the cuirass remained the main armor of the cavalry of the 16-17th century, causing the emergence of a new type of combat cavalry units - cuirassiers and hussars, whose swift attacks often broke the course of historical battles. But with the improvement of military affairs and the modernization of firearms, this “armor” turned out to be, in the end, a burden.

The cuirasses, undeservedly forgotten for several decades, returned to the Russian army only by 1812. On January 1, 1812, the highest decree on the manufacture of this safety equipment for the cavalry followed. By July 1812, all cuirassier regiments received new-style cuirasses, made of iron and covered with black paint.

The cuirass consisted of two halves - chest and dorsal, fastened with two belts with copper tips, riveted to the dorsal half at the shoulders and fastened on the chest with two copper buttons. For privates, these belts had iron scales, for officers - copper.

Along the edges of the cuirass was lined with red lace, and the inside had a lining of white canvas lined with cotton. Naturally, such protection did not hold a bullet, but in close combat, hand-to-hand combat or in an equestrian battle similar view protection armor was simply necessary. Subsequently, with a decrease in the effectiveness of this protection, the cuirass, in the end, remained in the troops only as an element of full dress.

The results of the Inkerman Sr. zheniya (1854), in which the Russian infantry was shot as a target in a shooting gallery, and the stunning losses of the division of George Edward Pickett (George Edward Pickett, 1825-1875) in the Battle of Gettysburg (Battle of Gettysburg, 1863), literally mowed down by the fire of the northerners, made the commanders think not only about changing traditional battle tactics. After all, the chest of the soldiers was protected from the deadly metal only by the thin cloth of the uniform.

As long as the battles were an exchange of musket volleys, followed by hand-to-hand threshing, this was not much of a concern. But with the advent of rapid-fire artillery, bombarding the battlefield with shrapnel and fragmentation grenades, rapid-fire, and then machine guns, the losses of the armies grew monstrously.

The generals treated the lives of their soldiers differently. Someone respected and protected them, someone considered death in battle an honorable thing for a real man, for someone the soldiers were just expendable. But they all agreed that excessive losses would not allow them to win the battle - or even lead to defeat. Particularly vulnerable were the fighters of the infantry battalions going on the attack and the sapper companies operating at the forefront - on which the enemy concentrated his main fire. Therefore, the idea arose to find a way to protect at least them.

"The Harvest of Death". ABOUT bottom of the famous photos American photographer Timothy O'Sullivan (Timothy O'Sullivan, 1840-1882), made by him on the day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Photo: Timothy H. O'Sullivan from the archives of the Library of Congress

The first attempt on the battlefield I wanted to return the old reliable shield. In 1886, steel shields designed by Colonel Fisher, with special windows for firing, were tested in Russia. Alas, too thin, they turned out to be ineffective - because they were easily shot through from new rifles. And the Japanese, who used British-made steel shields during the siege of Port Arthur, had another problem.
With dimensions of 1 m by 0.5 m and sufficient thickness, these shields weighed 20 kg - so it was simply impossible to run with them on the attack. Subsequently, the idea came up to put such heavy shields on wheels, which was transformed into the creation of armored cart boxes - climbing into which, the infantryman moved, pushing off with his feet. These were ingenious, but of little use, designs, since such a cart could only be pushed up to the first obstacle.
Another project turned out to be promising - a return to the use of a cuirass (shell). Fortunately, the idea was right before my eyes, since at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries it was still part of the ceremonial uniform of cuirassier regiments. It turned out that even a simple old-style cuirass (designed to protect against edged weapons) from a distance of a couple of dozen meters can withstand a 7.62-mm bullet from a Nagant revolver. Accordingly, some of its thickening (up to reasonable limits) could protect a person from something more powerful.

Thus began the revival of cuirasses. It should be noted that Russia responded to Japanese shields by ordering 100,000 infantry cuirasses for its army from the French company Simonet, Gesluen and Co. However, the delivered product was defective. Either the company cheated, or the interest of Paris in the defeat of the Russians affected - which entailed an even greater retraction of Russia into debt bondage to French banks.
The means of protection of domestic design turned out to be reliable. Among their authors, the most famous lieutenant colonel A. A. Chemerzin, who made cuirasses from various steel alloys developed by him. This talented man can no doubt be called the father of the Russian body armor.

“Catalogue of shells invented by Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Chemerzin” - this is the name of the brochure, published in a typographical way and sewn into one of the cases stored in the Central State Military Historical Archive. It provides the following information: “The weight of the shells: the lightest 11/2 pounds (pound - 409.5 g), the heaviest 8 pounds. Invisible under clothing. Shells against rifle bullets, not penetrated by a 3-line military rifle, have a weight of 8 pounds. The shells cover: the heart, lungs, abdomen, both sides, spinal column and back against the lungs and heart. The impenetrability of each shell is checked by shooting in the presence of the buyer.

The "Catalogue" contains several acts of tests of shells carried out in 1905-1907. One of them reported: “In the presence of HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPEROR, on June 11, 1905, a machine-gun company was fired in the city of Oranienbaum. They fired from 8 machine guns at an alloy shell invented by Lieutenant Colonel Chemerzin, from a distance of 300 steps. 36 bullets hit the shell. The shell was not pierced, and there were no cracks. During the test, the entire variable composition of the shooting school was present.

Shell shield , which the Sormovo Factory Society offered during the First World War.

The shells were also tested in the reserve of the Moscow Metropolitan Police, by order of which they were made. Shooting at them was carried out at a distance of 15 steps. The shells, as noted in the act, “turned out to be impenetrable, and the bullets did not give fragments. The first batch was made quite satisfactorily.

The act of the commission of the reserve of the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Police stated: “The test gave the following results: when shooting at the chest and dorsal shells, covered with thin silk fabric, the first weighing 4 pounds 75 spools (spool - 4.26 g) and the second 5 pounds 18 spools , covering the chest, stomach, sides and back, bullets (Browning), having pierced the matter, are deformed and produce a recess in the shell, but they do not pierce it, remaining between the matter and the shell, and no fragments of the bullet fly out.

By the beginning of World War I, cuirasses had become fashionable in Russia. They equipped the metropolitan police - to protect against the knives of criminals and the bullets of revolutionaries. Several thousand of them were sent to the army. Civilians, who were afraid of an armed robbery, also became interested in cuirasses of hidden (under clothing) wearing, despite the high prices (from 1,500 to 8,000 rubles). Alas, along with the first demand for these prototypes of civilian body armor, the first crooks appeared who took advantage of it. Promising that their goods would not be shot through with a machine gun, they sold cuirasses that, to put it mildly, did not stand up to any tests.
In the early days of 1918 yes, the French artillery and technical department tested old cuirasses at the Fort de la Peña training ground. Soldiers covered with a metal shell were shot from a pistol, rifle and machine gun with quite encouraging results. With the outbreak of the First World War, cuirasses and similar means of protection were used not only by Russia, but also by other countries.

The American army experimented with armor for its troops on the Western Front of the First World War.

The German army used helmets with special hinged armor. The pins of the attachments for additional protection on a standard German helmet evoked only malicious judgments from the enemy about the “horniness” of the Kaiser’s army, when, as the product itself, although it protected from a direct hit by a bullet, the cervical vertebrae of a soldier simply could not withstand the energy of a bullet strike, making the hit fatal in anyway.

Checking other elements of body armor in the case showed their advantages and disadvantages. Of course, it was a good protection of the torso - with its vital organs. However, the resistance of the cuirass depended on its thickness. Too thin and light did not protect at all from standard rifle bullets and large fragments, while the thicker one weighed so much that it became impossible to fight in it.

german " body armor" 1916.

However, research in the field of personal armor protection of the infantry was not limited to the end of the First World War.

Creations of Italian military thought during the First World War

A relatively successful compromise was found in 1938, when the first experimental steel bib SN-38 (SN-1) entered service with the Red Army. As the name implies, he protected the soldier only from the front (chest, stomach and groin). By saving on back protection, it became possible to increase the thickness of the steel sheet without overloading the fighter too much.

But all the weaknesses of such a decision showed themselves during the Finnish company, and in 1941 the development and production of the bib CH-42 (CH-2) began. Its creators were the armor laboratory of the Institute of Metals (TsNIIM) under the direction of M. I. Koryukov, one of the authors of the famous Soviet helmet, which is still in service.

Steel bib SN-38 (SN-1)

CH-42 consisted of two plates three millimeters thick, upper and lower - since in a one-piece bib a soldier could not bend down or sit down. He protected well from fragments, from machine gun bursts (at a distance of over 100 meters), although he could not withstand a shot from a rifle or machine gun. First of all, they were equipped with army special forces groups - assault engineering and sapper brigades (ShISBr). They were used in the most difficult areas: the capture of powerful fortifications, street battles. At the front, they were called "armored infantry", and also jokingly "crayfish".

Soldiers usually wore this “shell” on a padded jacket with torn off sleeves, which served as an additional shock absorber, despite the fact that the breastplate had a special lining on the inside. But there were cases when the "shell" was worn on top of a camouflage coat, as well as on top of an overcoat.

According to the reviews of front-line soldiers, the assessment of such a bib was the most controversial - from flattering reviews to complete rejection. But after analyzing the combat path of the “experts”, you come to the following paradox: the breastplate was valuable in the assault units that “took” large cities, and negative feedback came mainly from units that captured field fortifications. The "shell" protected the chest from bullets and shrapnel while the soldier was walking or running, as well as in hand-to-hand combat, so he was more needed in street fights.

However, in the field, sappers-attack aircraft moved more in a plastunsky way, and then the steel bib became an absolutely unnecessary hindrance. In units that fought in sparsely populated areas, these bibs migrated first to the battalion, and then to the brigade warehouses.

In 1942, an armored shield measuring 560x450 mm, made of 4 mm steel, was tested. Usually it was worn on belts behind the back, and in a combat situation the shooter put it in front of him and inserted a rifle into the provided slot. Fragmentary information has been preserved about the so-called "soldier's armor" - a 5-mm steel sheet measuring 700x1000 mm and weighing 20-25 kg with edges bent inward and, again, a hole for a rifle. These devices were used by observers and snipers.

In 1946, the CH-46, the last steel breastplate, entered service. Its thickness was increased to 5 mm, which made it possible to withstand bursts from a PPSh or MP-40 machine gun at a distance of 25 m, and for greater convenience of the fighter, it consisted of three parts.

The steel cuirass had three drawbacks: heavy weight, inconvenience when moving, and when hit by a bullet, splintering fragments of steel and splashes of lead, injuring its owner. It was possible to get rid of them thanks to the use of fabric made of durable synthetic fibers as a material.

The Americans were among the first to create a new means of protection. During the Korean War, they provided their soldiers with multilayer nylon vests. There were several types of them (M-1951, M-1952, M-12, etc.), and some had a cut of a real vest - fastened in front. They were powerless against bullets, and in general were originally intended to protect the crews of military equipment from small fragments.

That is why they covered the soldiers only to the waist. A little later, bulletproof vests began to be issued to those soldiers who fought on "their own two" (that is, infantry). To do this, they were lengthened and protective collars were added. In addition, to enhance protection, metal plates were placed inside the bulletproof vest (sewn or put into special pockets).

With these bulletproof vests, the United States entered into Vietnam War. An analysis of the losses of the American army showed that 70-75% of the wounds are shrapnel, with the majority in the torso. To reduce them, it was decided to completely dress the infantry in bulletproof vests, which saved many American soldiers and officers from wounds, and even from death. The appearance of a particularly durable synthetic material Kevlar, developed in 1965 by the American company DuPont, as well as special ceramics, allowed the United States to start producing bulletproof vests that could already somehow protect their soldiers from bullets.

The first domestic body armor was made at the All-Union Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM). It began to be developed in 1954, and in 1957 it received the index 6B1 and was accepted for supplying the armed forces of the USSR. It was made about one and a half thousand copies laid down in warehouses. It was decided to deploy mass production of body armor only in the event of a war period.

The protective composition of the BZh was a mosaic of hexagonal aluminum alloy plates, behind which there were several layers of nylon fabric and a batting lining. The vest protected against 7.62x25 cartridge bullets fired from a submachine gun (PPSh or PPS) from a distance of 50 meters and shrapnel.

In the initial period of the war in Afghanistan, a number of these BZs fell into the units of the 40th Army. Although the protective characteristics of these body armor were found to be insufficient, their operation gave a positive experience. In February 1979, a meeting was held at the Central Committee of the CPSU to equip

Individual Armor Protection of OKSV units in Afghanistan. Representatives of the Research Institute of Steel present at it proposed to create a vest for the army using the design solutions of the ZhZT-71M bulletproof vest previously developed by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The first experimental batch of such body armor was sent to Afghanistan in March 1979. In 1981, the body armor was accepted for supply to the USSR Armed Forces under the name 6B2 (Zh-81). Its protective composition consisted of ADU-605-80 titanium armor plates 1.25 mm thick and a ballistic screen made of aramid fabric TSVM-J.

With a mass of 4.8 kg, the BZh provided protection against fragments and pistol bullets. He could no longer resist the bullets of long-barreled small arms (bullets of the 7.62x39 cartridge pierced the protective composition already at distances of 400-600 meters).

By the way, an interesting fact. The cover of this body armor was made of kapron fabric, it was fastened with the then newfangled Velcro. All this gave the product a very "foreign" look. What was the reason for numerous rumors that these BZs were purchased abroad - either in the Czech Republic, or in the GDR, or even in some capital country ...

The ongoing war in Afghanistan required the army to be equipped with more reliable means of personal armor protection, providing protection against small arms bullets at real ranges of combined arms combat.

Two types of such body armor were developed and accepted for supply: 6B3TM and 6B4. In the first, titanium armor plates ADU-605T-83 6.5 mm thick were used, in the second - ceramic ADU 14.20.00.000, made of boron carbide. Both bulletproof vests provided circular bulletproof protection against PS bullets of cartridge 7.62x39 from a distance of 10 meters. However, the experience of military operation has shown that the weight of such protection is excessive. So, 6B3TM weighed 12.2 kg, and 6B4 - 12 kg.

As a result, it was decided to make the protection differentiated: the chest section is bulletproof, and the dorsal section is anti-fragmentation (with titanium armor panels similar to those used in the 6B2 vest. This made it possible to reduce the weight of the vests to 8.2 and 7.6 kg, respectively. In 1985, such bulletproof vests were adopted for supply under the indices 6B3-01 (Zh-85T) and 6B4-01 (Zh-85K).

When creating these bulletproof vests, for the first time an attempt was made to combine protective functions with the ability to carry a combat calculation. In special pockets of vest covers, 4 magazines for AK or RPK, 4 hand grenades, and a radio station could be placed.

Such a vest was accepted for supply in 1986 under the index 6B5 (Zh-86). It was decided to leave the rest of the bulletproof vests accepted for supply in the troops until they were completely replaced (in fact, the BZ 6B3-01 managed to fight in both the first and second Chechen campaigns).

The final in the series of Russian vests of the first generation is a series of bulletproof vests 6B5. This series was created by the Research Institute of Steel in 1985 after a cycle of research work to determine standardized typical personal armor protection equipment.

The 6B5 series was based on vests already developed and in operation and included 19 modifications that differ in the level of protection, area, and purpose. hallmark of this series is the modular principle of building protection. those. each subsequent model in the series could be formed from unified protective units. As the latter, modules based on fabric structures, titanium, ceramics and steel were envisaged.

Bulletproof vest 6B5 was put into service in 1986 under the designation Zh-86. The new vest was a cover in which soft ballistic screens made of TSVM-J fabric were placed, and the so-called. circuit boards, in the pockets of which armored plates were placed. The following types of armor panels could be used in the protective composition: ceramic ADU 14.20.00.000, titanium ADU-605T-83 and ADU-605-80, and steel ADU 14.05 3.8 mm thick.

Early models of bulletproof vests had covers made of nylon fabric in various shades of green or gray-green. There were also parties with covers made of cotton fabric with a camouflage pattern (two-color for the KGB units and the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, three-color for the Airborne Forces and the Marine Corps).

After the adoption of the combined-arms coloring of the Flora camouflage, the 6B5 body armor was also produced with such a camouflage pattern.

Bulletproof vest 6B5 consists of a front and back, connected in the shoulder area with a textile fastener and belt-buckle fastening for height adjustment. The front and back consist of covers in which fabric protective pockets and blocks of pockets and armor elements are located. Protective properties are retained after exposure to moisture when using water-repellent covers for protective pockets.

The bullet-proof vest is completed with two water-repellent covers for protective pockets, two spare armor elements and a bag. All body armor models are equipped with anti-fragmentation collar. On the outside of the body armor there are pockets for machine gun stores and other weapons.

Rollers are provided in the shoulder area to prevent the rifle belt from slipping off the shoulder. During the dashing 90s, the development of army personal protective equipment stalled, and funding for many promising body armor projects was curtailed. But rampant crime in the country gave impetus to the development and production of personal armor protection for individuals. Demand for them in these early years greatly exceeded supply.

It is no coincidence that firms and firms offering these products began to appear in Russia like mushrooms after the rain. Already after 3 years, the number of such firms exceeded 50. The seeming simplicity of body armor led to this area a lot of amateur firms, and sometimes outright charlatans.

As a result, the quality of body armor that flooded the Russian market has plummeted. Evaluating one of these "bulletproof vests", experts from the Research Institute of Steel once discovered that ordinary food-grade aluminum was used as protective elements in it. It is obvious that, apart from being hit by a ladle, such a vest did not protect from anything else.

Therefore, in 1995, a significant step was made in the field of personal armor protection? the appearance of GOST R 50744-95 (link), which regulates the classification and technical requirements for body armor.

Progress did not stand still, and the army needed new body armor. The concept of BKIE appeared ( basic kit personal equipment), in which body armor played a significant role. The first project of the BKIE "Barmitsa" contained the theme "Zabralo" - a new army bulletproof vest, to replace the bulletproof vests of the "Beehive" series.

Body armor 6B11, 6B12, 6B13 was created within the framework of the "Visor" theme and put into service in 1999. Unusually for the Soviet period, these bulletproof vests were developed and produced by a significant number of organizations and differ significantly in their characteristics. Bulletproof vests 6B11, 6B12, 6B13 are or were produced by the Research Institute of Steel, TsVM Armokom, NPF Tehinkom, JSC Kirasa.

In general, 6B11 is a bulletproof vest of the 2nd class of protection, weighing about 5 kg. 6B12 - provides protection for the chest according to the 4th class of protection, back - according to the second. Weight - about 8 kg. 6B13 - all-round protection of the 4th class, weighing about 11 kg.

Boron carbide, together with corundum and silicon carbide, is still used today for the manufacture of bulletproof vests. Russian army. Unlike metals, these materials, when hit by a bullet, do not create fragments - which then have to be picked out by surgeons, but crumble into safe "sand" (like car glass).

In addition to several basic combined-arms (infantry) models, the army and special services are armed with an innumerable number of specific ones: from pilots' protective kits to sappers' armored suits similar to space suits, reinforced with a special frame - which must withstand not only fragments, but also an explosive wave. You can’t do without some oddities: in fact, bulletproof vests have always been “cut out” for men, and now women are en masse in the army, whose figure, as you know, has some differences.

Meanwhile, in the production of bulletproof vests, they promise to make another revolution. For example, the Dutch company "Heerlen" announced the development of a fabric "Dyneema SB61" made of polyethylene fiber, which, according to its assurances, is 40% stronger than Kevlar.

And specialists from the University of Delaware and the US Army Research Laboratory (USA) proposed a completely original "liquid armor". Their experimental sample is a Kevlar fabric impregnated with STF material - a mixture of microscopic quartz particles and polyethylene glycol. The meaning of the innovation is that the particles of quartz, having penetrated into the fibers of the fabric, replace inconvenient plug-in armor plates.

As in the case of military cuirasses, after the appearance of bulletproof vests in the army, civilians also desired to have them. The excitement for them arose immediately after the Korean War - the soldiers returning home talked about the "magic vests" a lot fantasy stories. As a result, a myth arose that a simple fabric body armor is completely impenetrable. Moreover, there were tales about some "armored shirts" - which turned out to be an ordinary swindle. Judge for yourself: the shirt is made from just one layer of fabric, which is not enough even to protect against a miniature "browning". To be on the safe side, wear at least a Kevlar padded jacket.

Typical civilian bulletproof vests are class 1-3. The first, made of several layers of fabric, protects against bullets from a PM and Nagan pistol - but no more! In addition, it is easily pierced by a stiletto or awl, which pass through the Kevlar fabric, pushing its fibers apart (as through chain mail links).

The second class includes rather thick, dense vests, reinforced in the most vital places with thin inserts (usually metal). They are designed for a TT pistol bullet and pistol models chambered for 9 mm.

The third class is already less comfortable body armor equipped with armor plates. They are designed to protect against shots from light machine guns - this is not a Kalashnikov automatic assault carbine, but submachine guns such as PPSh, Uzi, Kehler-Koch, etc.

All three classes are concealed wear body armor worn under a shirt, sweater, jacket. If desired, and the availability of additional funds, they will be made to order for you, for any style and color.

Quite often, customers are asked to make them in the form of a regular vest from a suit or a women's corset, sometimes disguised as a jacket or jacket. This is necessary mainly for aesthetic reasons, so as not to shock others - if its owner is a public person.

It should be noted that bulletproof vests have a wider circle of owners than it seems at first glance. For example, in Israel they are sometimes ordered for children - for obvious reasons. And in the UK, they want to put police dogs in bulletproof vests.

The fourth and fifth classes of body armor are already classified as professional, combat - and they are intended for the army, police, and special services. These thick and rather heavy “shells” worn over the suit promise that your body armor will protect not only from fragments of a grenade that exploded nearby, but also withstand a bullet from a Kalashnikov assault rifle, M-16, and even a sniper rifle. But not at close range, but from a distance of several hundred meters, and simple, and not with an armor-piercing core - which passes through the Kevlar threads in the same way as an awl, and pierces the plates.

Theoretically, a plate can be put into a bulletproof vest that can even withstand a bullet from a heavy machine gun. That's just the soldier is not saved. And that's why.

Armor, be it steel, Kevlar or composite, only delays a bullet or a fragment: only part of its kinetic energy is converted into heat during inelastic deformations of the vest and the bullet itself. However, momentum is preserved. And hitting the body armor, a pistol bullet causes a blow that can be compared to a good hook from a professional boxer. A bullet from a machine gun will hit the armor plate with the force of a sledgehammer - breaking ribs and beating off the insides.

That is why, even under steel cuirasses and breastplates, soldiers put on padded jackets or home-made pillows - to at least some soften the blow. Now, shock-absorbing pads made of porous materials are used for this. But they help only partially.

It is easy to imagine what will happen when a 12.7 mm bullet hits. It is unlikely that even the most experienced surgeon will be able to assemble a poor fellow with minced lungs and a crumbling spine. That is why it is advisable to increase the bullet resistance of body armor only up to a certain point - beyond which it is simply better not to tempt fate.