Old Russian warriors: clothing, weapons and equipment. Prospects for the development of "Ratnik"

The Russian army is rapidly changing its appearance. Already in November, military personnel will begin to change into new clothes. combat equipment“soldier of the future” - “Warrior”. This set of uniforms, protective equipment, communications, reconnaissance, target designation and new small arms designed not only to significantly increase a soldier’s chances of survival on the battlefield, but also to make each soldier an independent combat unit. A kind of “terminator”, controlled by radio and video signal, independently navigating the terrain, bulletproof, and possessing great firepower.

The general director of TsNIITochmash Dmitry Semizorov announced that the contract with the Ministry of Defense had been signed. According to him, the army will receive the first sets of new combat equipment in November. The volume of annual purchases of kits by the military department will be approximately 50 thousand units. By 2015, the army will be fully equipped with the latest technology, changing not only its appearance, but also significantly increasing its combat capabilities.

Keep up with the times

Creating equipment for the “soldier of the future” has been a trend in recent decades. All recent wars have shown that combat missions will no longer be carried out by mass armies, but by individual combat units, whose actions on the battlefield must be coordinated with aviation, armored vehicles and artillery. Orders to them may come not from the immediate commander, but from headquarters located thousands of kilometers away, and commanders must not only know where each individual fighter is, what he sees, but also correlate his position relative to other participants in the battle. The conduct of such a war is also called “network-centric”.

All these possibilities are included in the concept of equipment for the “soldier of the future.” In the USA, work on this form was called Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior, in Germany - IdZ, Great Britain - FIST, Spain - COMFUT, Sweden - IMESS, France - FELIN. The Russian "Ratnik" was first presented at the MAKS-2011 air show. In 2012, experimental military operation of the Russian kit began during the Caucasus-2012 exercises. Since 2013, preliminary and state tests of the combat complex for protecting the fighter began in 10 military units of the Ministry of Defense.

No man is an island

Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, says that in modern combat conditions, the number of pieces of equipment constantly worn by a serviceman is constantly increasing. When creating the “Ratnik” equipment, the experience of combat operations and the results of comparative tests of domestic and foreign elements of combat equipment were taken into account - for example, the French FELIN kit, which the Ministry of Defense purchased from France during the time of Interim Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. However, there is nothing French in the Russian “Warrior”. The foreign kit was of interest to the military more from the point of view of the ideology of creating equipment rather than its functionality. In addition, comparative tests have shown the insufficient effectiveness of French equipment in relation to the requirements of the Russian Ministry of Defense, its vision of the development of modern military conflicts and, of course, operating conditions. However, “conceptually” “Ratnik” is no different from what is being created in the interests of the leading armies of the World.

The basis of the "Warrior" kits are body armor, body armor, combat overalls, goggles, a headset with an active hearing protection system, a set of protection for the fighter's elbow and knee joints, machine guns, sniper rifles, a grenade launcher, ammunition for them, a new combat knife, as well as a 24-hour sighting complex, reconnaissance devices, unified optical and thermal imaging sights, small-sized binoculars and other samples. IN total The “Ratnik” combat equipment sets include 59 elements of equipment for military personnel: a rifleman, a driver, a reconnaissance officer and soldiers of other specialties. All of them are conventionally divided into elements of the destruction system, protection, life support, energy supply and control, communications and reconnaissance systems.

Doesn't burn in fire, protects from bullets

The current field uniform is noticeably different from the “Warrior” uniform in color, cut and structure of materials. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, by 2015 the Russian army will switch to a new unified uniform designed for everyday wear. To use the combat kit, military personnel will not need to change into “ratnik” clothing - it will be the same for everyone. The Ratnik aramid overalls are made of Alutex fiber. Thanks to it, the soldier's uniform is able to withstand direct hits from fragments of grenades, mines or shells, and can also withstand exposure to open flames for some time. The Ratnik overalls are capable of protecting a fighter not only in the frontal and lateral projections, but also covers other vulnerable areas: the neck, hands, and shoulders. The soldier's head is protected by a helmet, which can save the life of a soldier even with direct hit a Makarov pistol bullet fired from a distance of 5-5.5 m.

All elements of the kit can be combined. The total weight of the standard version of overalls and body armor of the fifth protection class is about 10 kilograms, the maximum weight - with a helmet, assault body armor of the sixth protection class, armor plates for the shoulders and hips - is about 20 kilograms. In general, a set of new combat equipment will be able to cover approximately 90% of the surface of a soldier’s body.

War on comfort

The “breathable” design of the new set of equipment allows for continuous wear for at least 48 hours. The fabric is impregnated with a special compound that allows air to pass through but retains moisture. A winter version of the equipment has also been designed. It will differ from the summer one in that it contains elements of insulation and heat supply.

The life support system of the “Ratnik” kit is supplemented with safety glasses made of special glass capable of withstanding a fragment with a diameter of about 6 mm flying at a speed of about 350 m/s, a hearing protection headset, a set of protection for knee and elbow joints, and an individual filter for water purification , a set of autonomous heat sources and other components. The armored suit blocks radiation in the ultraviolet and infrared spectra, which makes the fighter invisible in a thermal imaging sight.

At the same time, if necessary, the entire set of equipment can be reset almost in one motion in a few seconds. That is, the equipment, which has considerable weight, will not drag the soldier to the bottom if he falls into the water. And the body armor created for the Navy is generally know-how. It managed to combine both body armor and a life jacket. In the event that a sailor who is on watch suddenly finds himself overboard the ship, he will not drown, but will remain floating on the surface thanks to such body armor.

I see and hear

One of the most important parts of the “Warrior” kit is the means of individual communication, identification, processing and display of information, orientation, and navigation integrated into the suit. It is based on the Sagittarius complex. It allows not only the transfer of voice messages between individual soldiers during an operation, but also provides communication with the command center. Moreover, again, not only by “voice”, but also through special signal commands, through the transmission of photo and video broadcasts from the battlefield, which will allow commanders to more effectively correct the actions of fighters. The transmitting and receiving device can be attached to a weapon, or directly to a helmet. The second use case looks like a kind of eyecup. Its use will allow a fighter to hit the enemy from cover without the need to have a direct view of what is happening on the ground.

A communicator will be placed on the equipment of the soldier of the future, which will determine the soldier’s coordinates using GPS and GLONASS systems, which will make it quite easy to solve the problems of target designation and terrain orientation. In this case, the location of the serviceman on the battlefield will be automatically transmitted to the command post. Thanks to this, the unit commander will not only see where each of his fighters is, but also move them like “pawns” on a chessboard to more effectively solve the task.

Shooting complex

One of the most important parts of the “soldier of the future” equipment is fire weapons. It seems that along with the new kit, the main weapon brand in the army will also change. The familiar Mikhail Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle will retire. It will be replaced by a whole family of new rifle and grenade launcher systems from the Kovrov Mechanical Plant named after Degtyarev. Changing the “brand”, like “Ratnik” itself, is a requirement of the time.

“Russia no longer needs a mass army,” says Viktor Murakhovsky, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine. — The Kovrov assault rifle AEK-971 is primarily aimed at contract soldiers for whom service is a profession. Distinctive feature AEK-971 is an automatic system that compensates for recoil with a special balancer device moving in the direction opposite to the bolt group. Thanks to this, when firing from the AEK-971, the first three bullets hit the top ten. Then, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle, the second and third bullets always deviate to the side.”

In addition, the AEK-971 assault rifle is equipped with a folding stock. It is equipped with so-called “Picatinny” frames, which allow you to attach any night vision sights to the barrel, as well as thermal imaging aiming systems. In addition, the soldier will receive a video module that will allow him to fire from around a corner or cover without leaning out.

In addition, Degtyarev immediately offers a whole family of new weapons for the “Warrior”: the modernized 7.62 mm “Pecheneg” machine gun and the new 5.45 mm “Tokar” assault machine gun. There will be a new 6V7M sniper rifle of 12.7 mm caliber, a new grenade launcher-machine gun system with quick-detachable 25 and 12.7 mm barrels. Externally it looks very similar to a portable one automatic grenade launcher AGS-30 “Flame”, but it is several kilograms lighter, which allows it to be carried by one soldier. There will also be a new portable artillery complex 23 mm caliber to destroy material objects.

Degree of expectation

The adoption of the “Warrior” does not mean that work on the “soldier of the future” set of equipment has been completed. According to Dmitry Semizorov, the contract with the Ministry of Defense is for 3 years. During this time, the industry must not only produce equipment, but also complete testing and fine-tuning of its individual elements to military requirements. Therefore, “Ratnik” will be delivered to the troops “in parts.”

However, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces is confident that even now the new set of equipment will not only provide the ability for military personnel to perform combat missions at any time of the day and in different conditions. climatic conditions. When equipping motorized rifle units with Ratnik equipment, the likelihood of completing combat missions increases by one and a half to two times. In the case of the Airborne Forces, Marine Corps and GRU special forces, this figure may be even higher, since a specialized set of equipment for the soldier of the future is being developed for these units, taking into account the specifics of their tasks. According to the plans of the Ministry of Defense, in 2014, 5-7 formations will receive the new “Ratnik” combat kit, and over the next five years, all the rest will be changed.

It would seem that she just recently joined the army new system"Ratnik" combat equipment, and the military is already initiating the development of next-generation kits. Of course, the “Ratnik”, which has been supplied to the Russian army since 2014, has been improved and supplemented all this time. And the kit that is replacing it, already called “Sotnik,” will not be a completely new development. It will be a logical continuation, in which a number of modern technologies will be applied, for example, it is possible to use an exoskeleton, and elements that have proven themselves in practice will remain the same. Rostec has already begun development work to create Sotnik in 2020. It is assumed that the head enterprise of the project will be the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering of the Rostec State Corporation.

Armor of the future

Personal military equipment continues to play in the realities of modern armed conflicts important role. The times of giant armies are a thing of the past; today the emphasis is on compact, well-armed and equipped selective units controlled using digital systems. All the world's leading powers are moving in this direction. Russia also did not stand aside: in the 2000s, defense industry enterprises began to develop elements of equipment for the “soldier of the future.”

A set of combat equipment “Ratnik” for a reconnaissance officer and a protective set for crews of armored vehicles 6B48 “Ratnik-ZK”

First new equipment called "Warrior" was shown in 2011. Based on the results of military tests, "Ratnik" received high marks from the military and was recommended for mass production. New kits began to arrive in active military formations in 2014. On this moment About 200 thousand sets were delivered. The creation and commissioning of the “Ratnik” equipment became part of a large-scale update of the Russian army.

If on initial stage"Ratnik" was perceived as a new uniform from modern materials, then later the concept changed, and today the kit includes several dozen elements. It is important to understand that “Ratnik” is a modular complex, and its various parts can be combined with each other depending on the type of troops, the tasks of the unit, the season or place of use. The modular nature of the "Warrior" allows you to replace its parts without losing the functionality of the whole. Since its inception, the kit has not ceased to be modified and improved. Some elements become obsolete and are updated (for example, communications), some go away, and new ones appear. Now the second generation kit is being supplied to the army, and they are preparing to start work on the creation of the third “Warrior”.

Ratnik details

The equipment of the “soldier of the future” combines the most advanced solutions and technologies that are used today in military uniforms. The objectives of “Ratnik” are to provide the fighter with high efficiency and maximum safety in any conditions, as well as continuous communication with the command. These tasks are solved with the help of five interconnected subsystems: destruction, protection, control, life support and energy supply. This includes everything needed for modern combat: from shoes, clothing and weapons to high-tech protective equipment, aiming, surveillance, targeting and communications.

Helmet monitor

The Ratnik helmet is made of composite materials and protects against bullets from a Makarov pistol from a distance of 5 meters, as well as from fragments of mines and grenades. It is recognized by the international community as the lightest in its class. The second generation body armor can withstand 10 hits from an armor-piercing incendiary sniper bullet and Kalashnikov AK74 assault rifle bullets from 10 meters. The vest is based on ceramic-composite armor panels, which have high strength and low weight. In the basic version, the armored vehicle weighs only about 7.8 kg. The assault equipment is complemented by protection for the groin and side areas and weighs approximately 15 kg. It is worth noting that the body armor is also a life-saving vest, providing the soldier with buoyancy. An important feature is that the vest is made to be quickly removable, which is critical for prompt assistance in case of injury.

The protection kit also includes clothing made of ballistic armid fabric, goggles, knee pads and elbow pads. To distribute the weight of equipment and conveniently store it, a modular transport vest with an adjustable number of pockets and fastenings is used.

Electronics for a “smart” army

The main thing that brings Ratnik closer to the soldiers from science fiction films is, of course, the electronic filling. Here everything is run by “Sagittarius”, the reconnaissance, control and communications complex (KRUS), essentially a personal computer adapted for ease of use in reconnaissance and combat. The components of the complex with a total weight of 2.4 kg are distributed over a transport vest, the control device is in the hands of a fighter - a tablet. A more complex and functional tablet is used on command post. Information exchange occurs continuously via a secure channel. The soldier can transmit text data, coordinates, photographs, videos. The commander on his tablet sees the location of all fighters, can coordinate their actions, plot routes, receive data on the enemy’s position, and much more. Combat control is reminiscent of computer game, and information and the speed of its transmission become the most important components of the battle.

Commander personal Tablet PC"Sagittarius" systems

The Ratnik helmet has a universal mount on which various equipment can be attached, and it also integrates with KRUS and participates in the exchange important information. The video module developed by the Central Research Institute “Cyclone” of the Rostec State Corporation, consisting of a sight and a helmet-mounted monitor, allows you to fire from cover. A variety of sighting systems and thermal imagers can also be used. The night vision system helps to fire in low visibility conditions.

Ratnik's life and energy support systems include backpacks different types, seasonal camouflage kits, watches, flashlight, multi-tool knife, sapper shovel, water filter, tools chemical protection and control, first aid equipment, autonomous heat source, battery, eating utensils, tent and sleeping bag. In total, “Ratnik” has more than 50 elements. The average service life of the kit is 5 years.

Third generation soldier

At the Army 2018 exhibition, the possible appearance of the third generation Ratnik was shown, which reminded many of the stormtroopers from the Star Wars saga or the robot policeman from the film of the same name. The new kit, which has already received the name “Sotnik,” may include “mine-resistant” boots, an “anti-heat” suit that hides the soldier from infrared sensors, and an anti-radar suit.

In automated control systems tactical level plans to introduce micro-unmanned aerial vehicles. The drone's camera image will be projected onto the helmet visor or goggles. It will also be possible to project control commands, terrain maps and other data onto electronic glasses.

In Sotnik it is planned to use an electrically controlled chameleon material - developed by the Ruselectronics holding. Electrochrome is capable of changing color depending on the surface being masked and its environment. For the first time, a helmet with this unique coating was demonstrated at the Army 2018 forum.

Another new feature of Sotnik could be a module for assessing the physical condition of a fighter. Using sensors, it registers and collects data on the fighter’s pulse, breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure in real time. In the event of loss of combat capability, data on the condition of the soldier and the nature of the injury or wound is transmitted to the commander and the medical brigade. Thus, the chance of quickly providing first aid and rescuing a soldier increases, and the command can quickly make up for lost personnel.

The most anticipated part of the “soldier of the future” suit may be a passive exoskeleton. It has already been tested in real combat conditions and has confirmed its effectiveness. The exoskeleton increases the physical capabilities of a soldier, provides protection for the joints and spine, and can be adjusted in height and size to a specific soldier. Development within Rostec is carried out by TsNIITochmash together with the GB Engineering company.

The exoskeleton, made of lightweight carbon fiber, relieves the musculoskeletal system when carrying loads weighing up to 50 kg (raid backpacks, special equipment, weapons and ammunition) during long marches or during assault operations. The product is a lever-hinged mechanical device that replicates human joints.

A passive exoskeleton, unlike active ones, does not have power sources, servos, electronics, or various sensors, which makes it more reliable, lighter (from 4 to 8 kg depending on the configuration), absolutely autonomous and easy to maintain. Such an exoskeleton can be used not only during combat, but also in the rear - for maintenance and repair of equipment, construction and other tasks.

Thanks to the use of innovative materials and the combination of functions of individual elements, the weight of the set will be reduced by 20% and will be about 20 kilograms. Deliveries of the new Sotnik complex to the army should begin in 2025.

Any settlement has borders that must be protected from enemy invasions; this need has always existed for large Slavic settlements. During the period of Ancient Rus', conflicts tore the country apart; it was necessary to fight not only with external threats, but also with fellow tribesmen. Unity and agreement between the princes helped create a great state that 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 from the background of ordinary peasants. They defended their home with spears, axes, knives and clubs. Military equipment, weapons appear gradually, and they are to a greater extent focused on protecting its owner rather than attacking. In the 10th century, several Slavic tribes united around the Prince of Kyiv, who collected taxes and protected the territory under his control from the invasion of the steppes, Swedes, Byzantines, and Mongols. A squad is formed, 30% of which consists of professional military men (often mercenaries: Varangians, Pechenegs, Germans, Hungarians) and militias (voi). During this period, the weapons of the ancient Russian warrior consisted of a club, a spear, and a sword. Lightweight protection does not restrict movement and ensures mobility in battle and on the march. The main force was infantry, horses were used as pack animals and for delivering soldiers to battlefields. The cavalry is formed after unsuccessful clashes with the steppe people, who were excellent riders.

Protection

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

Shield

The armor of the ancient Russian warrior was light, which ensured high maneuverability, but at the same time reduced the degree of protection. Large ones, human-sized, have been used by Slavic peoples since ancient times. They covered the warrior's head, so in the upper part they had a hole for the eyes. Since the 10th century, shields have been made round shape, they are upholstered in iron, covered with leather and decorated with various tribal symbols. According to the testimony of Byzantine historians, the Russians created a wall of shields that tightly closed with each other, and put spears forward. This tactic did not allow the advanced units of the enemy to break through to the rear of the Russian troops. After 100 years, the uniform is adapted to a new type of army - cavalry. The shields become almond-shaped and 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 firearms. Many traditions and legends are associated with shields. Some of them are up to today are "winged". 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, Old Russian warriors wore ordinary hats on their heads, which did not protect them from 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 Rus'. The conical shape has become more practical and therefore widely used. In this case, the helmet was riveted from four metal plates, they were decorated precious stones and feathers (from noble warriors or governors). This shape allowed the sword to slip without causing much harm to the person; a balaclava made of leather or felt softened the blow. The helmet was changed due to additional protective devices: aventail (chain mail mesh), nasal (metal plate). The use of protection in the form of masks (faces) was rare in Rus'; most often these were captured helmets, which were widely used in European countries. The description of the ancient Russian warrior, preserved in the chronicles, suggests that they did not hide their faces, but could fetter the enemy with a menacing gaze. Helmets with a half mask were made for noble and wealthy warriors; they were characterized by decorative details that did not have a protective function.

Chain mail

The most famous part of the vestment of an ancient Russian warrior, according to archaeological excavations, appears in the 7th - 8th centuries. Chain mail is a shirt made of metal rings tightly connected to each other. At this time, it was quite difficult for craftsmen to make such protection; the work was delicate and took a long period of time. The metal was rolled into wire, from which rings were rolled and welded, fastened to each other according to a 1 to 4 pattern. At least 20 - 25 thousand rings were spent on creating one chain mail, the weight of which ranged from 6 to 16 kilograms. Copper links were woven into the fabric for decoration. In the 12th century, stamping technology was used, when woven rings were flattened, which provided a larger area of ​​protection. During the same period, chain mail became longer, additional elements of armor appeared: nagovitsa (iron, wicker stockings), aventail (mesh to protect the neck), bracers (metal gloves). Quilted clothing was worn under the chain mail to soften the force of the blow. At the same time, they were used in Rus'. Manufacturing required a base (shirt) made of leather, onto which thin iron slats were tightly attached. Their length was 6 - 9 centimeters, width from 1 to 3. Lamellar armor gradually replaced chain mail and was even sold to other countries. In Rus', scale, lamellar and chain mail armor were often combined. Yushman, bakhterets were essentially chain mail, which, to increase their protective properties, were equipped with plates on the chest. At the beginning appears the new kind armor - mirrors. Metal plates big size, polished to a shine, were usually worn over chain mail. They were connected on the sides and shoulders with leather straps and were often decorated with various kinds of symbols.

Weapon

The protective clothing of the ancient Russian warrior was not impenetrable armor, but was distinguished by its lightness, which ensured greater maneuverability of warriors and shooters in battle conditions. According to information obtained from historical sources of the Byzantines, the “Rusichi” were distinguished by 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 heavy weight and was additionally equipped with damaging elements. The evolution of weapons took place against the background technical progress and changes in battle strategy. Throwing systems, siege engines, piercing and cutting iron tools were used for many centuries, and their design was constantly improved. Some innovations were adopted from other nations, 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 the club. This is a heavy club that is wrapped in iron at the end. Some options include metal spikes or nails. Most often in Russian chronicles, a flail is mentioned along with a club. Due to their ease of manufacture and effectiveness in combat, impact weapons were widely used. The sword and saber are partially replacing it, but militias and warriors 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 in this capacity.

Slashing, piercing

In the history of ancient Rus', 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 were of several types; they were named according to the place where they were worn: boot knives, belt knives, side knives. They were used along with the sword and the ancient Russian warrior changed in the 10th century, the sword was replaced by a saber. Her combat characteristics The Russians appreciated it 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 sulitsa. Not only peasants (warriors and militias), but also the princely squad fought with axes. For mounted warriors, this type of weapon had a short handle, while infantrymen (warriors) used axes on long shafts. Berdysh (an ax with a wide blade) became a weapon in the 13th - 14th centuries. Later it was transformed into a halberd.

Strelkovoe

All means used daily in hunting and in everyday life were used by Russian soldiers as military weapons. Bows were made from animal horns and suitable types of wood (birch, juniper). Some of them were more than two meters long. To store arrows, they used a shoulder quiver, which was made of leather, sometimes decorated with brocade, precious and semi-precious stones. To make arrows, reeds, birch, reeds, and apple trees were used, with an iron tip attached to the splinter. In the 10th century, the design of the bow was quite complex, and the process of its manufacture was labor-intensive. Crossbows were a more effective type. Their disadvantage was their lower rate of fire, but the bolt (used as a projectile) caused more damage to the enemy, piercing armor when hit. It was difficult to pull the bowstring of a crossbow; even strong warriors rested their feet on the butt to do this. In the 12th century, to speed up and facilitate this process, they began to use a hook, which archers wore on their belts. Before the invention of firearms, bows were used by Russian troops.

Equipment

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

History has preserved almost no evidence of the education of future warriors in Rus', although it is known that the art of war among the ancient Slavs was extremely developed, this was noted by the ancient Greeks, Byzantine Romans and even the Romans.

The testimonies of foreigners and the conspiracies of whispering grandmothers have reached us, speaking of the many dangers that awaited the boys: “Otherwise, be careful: from an ax, from a arquebus, from a Tatar pike, from a red-hot arrow, from a wrestler and a fist fighter...”

Testimony of foreigners

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

The Emperor of the “Romans” Mauritius the Strategist in the 6th century pointed out: “The Slavic tribes... are not inclined to obedience, they are extremely brave and hardy... their young men are excellent with weapons.” The Byzantine commander of the 10th century, Nikephoros Phocas, associated his success on the island of Crete, when his selected army defeated the Arab pirates, with the participation in the sortie of “well-trained Ros and Tauro-Scythians.”

Historians are inclined to believe that up to the 10th century state structure The Slavs had a military democracy, everything was decided by the council of elders, the general meeting, and during the war - by the prince-military leader.

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 warriors were divided into youths and veterans.

This division reached the 10th century: the princely squad was divided into the father's squad and the younger squad. The youngest were recruited from boys 10–12 years old; in peacetime, teenagers served older warriors; in wartime, they gained experience and gradually replaced their fathers.

Education began with tonsure

It is known that the education of a 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 would behave: the future brave warrior had to tightly grasp the horse’s mane so as not to fall.

At the age of four, the prince’s sons began to be taken care of by the “uncle” - an experienced warrior, a member of the prince’s warriors, who was responsible for his upbringing and often became the boy’s mentor instead dead 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, took part in the campaign as a child: he threw a spear at the Drevlyans, but it flew “between the horse’s ears” and fell at his feet, “for Svyatoslav was still a child.” Immediately, the military leaders Asmud and Sveneld rushed to the young man’s rescue, supporting the boy’s decision: “The prince has already begun; Let us follow, squad, the prince.”

From wooden swords to weapons

People were taught to use weapons from childhood, which is confirmed by the findings of archaeologists who, at the excavations of ancient settlements, find children’s wooden swords, the shape of which follows adult weapons. It can be assumed that it was wooden weapons that were used to train children and adolescents.

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

Agility developed in games

The creator of the Slavic-Goritsky wrestling, Alexander Belov, who studied military culture in Rus', noted that children's amusements played a training role: playing “King of the Hill”, taking an ice fortress, fist fights, swings, lapta and sliding down the hills cultivated endurance, strength, agility and the ability to stand up for yourself.

Another Russian pastime that accustomed young men to war was hunting, which was the way of life for many families. Hunting taught us to read tracks, choose a place for an ambush, use natural cover, wait patiently while sitting in swamps among midges, and quickly kill even a large and strong animal. Particular valor was to go after a bear with a spear - 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 first battles. But those who survived learned quickly and became strong and very cautious warriors.

The Kiev prince Vladimir Monomakh recalled that in his youth, twice the tours overturned him along with his horse, a deer and an elk butted him with their antlers, another elk trampled him with his feet, a boar tore his sword from his hip, and a bear, jumping on his horse, knocked him down along with prince and bit his leg. Many times the prince fell from his horse, breaking his arms and legs, “but God saved him.”

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

The armament of the Russian warrior consisted of a sword, saber, spear, sulitsa, bow, dagger-knife, various types of striking weapons (axes, maces, flails, six-feathers, klevtsy), stabbing and chopping halberds; various protective weapons, which included, as a rule, a helmet, a shield, a breastplate-cuirass, and some elements of armor (bracers, leggings, shoulder pads). Sometimes the horses of rich warriors were also equipped with protective weapons. In this case, the muzzle, neck, chest (sometimes chest and croup together) and legs of the animal were protected.
Slavic swords IX-XI centuries were not much different from the swords of Western Europe. Nevertheless, modern scientists divide them into two dozen types, differing mainly in the shape of the crosspiece 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, tapering towards the tip. As a rule, there was one fuller in the middle of the blade. 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 fuller is 2.5-4 mm, outside the fuller - 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. Maintaining continuity of development, at the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th centuries, swords became shorter (up to 86 cm), lighter (up to 1 kg) and thinner, their fuller, which in the 9th-10th centuries occupied half the width of the blade, XI-XII centuries takes only a third to completely turn into a narrow groove in the 13th century. The hilt of the sword was often made of several layers of leather, rarely with any, usually wooden, filler. Sometimes the handle was wrapped with a rope, often with special impregnation.
The guard and the “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 a so-called “apple” - a knob at the end. It not only decorated the sword and protected the hand from slipping from the handle, but sometimes acted as a balance. It was more convenient to fight with a sword in which the center of gravity was close to the handle, but the blow with the same given impulse of force was lighter.
Stamps were often applied to the fullers of ancient swords, often representing complex abbreviations of words; from the second half of the 13th century, the marks decreased in size, were applied not to the fuller, but to the edge of the blade, and subsequently blacksmiths applied marks in the form of symbols. This is, for example, the “Passaur top” applied to Dovmont’s sword. The study of forge marks of blades and armor constitutes a separate section of historical sphragistics.
In collisions with light and mobile nomads, cavalrymen are more advantageous weapon became lighter 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 deliver a more powerful blow.
It should be noted that some blades of the 18th-20th centuries retain traces of reforging (more elongated, “twisted” metal grains are visible during microscopic analysis of metallographic sections), i.e. old blades, including swords, became “new” in shape, lighter and more convenient in the forges.
A spear was among the first tools of human labor. In Rus', the spear was one of the most common elements of weapons for both foot and horse warriors. The horsemen's spears were about 4-5 meters long, the infantrymen's spears were a little more than two meters long. A separate type of Russian spear was spear- a spear with a wide diamond-shaped or laurel-shaped tip up to 40 cm long (tip only), mounted on a shaft. With such a spear it was possible not only to stab, but also to chop and cut. In Europe, a similar type of spear had the name protazan.
In addition to the spear, a throwing spear received its own name in the sources - sulitsa. These spears were relatively short (probably 1-1.5 meters) with a narrow, light point. Some modern reenactors add a belt loop to the sulitsa shaft. The loop allows you to throw the hook further and more accurately.
Archaeological finds suggest that in Ancient Rus' there were also widespread pillums, a weapon that was in service with the Roman legionnaires - throwing spears with a long, up to 1 m, neck of the tip and a wooden handle. In addition to their damaging function, these spears, which pierced a simple shield and got stuck in it, became a significant hindrance 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 triangular tip mounted on a light shaft. The pike replaced both the spear and the spear, first from horse and then from foot weapons. The pikes were in service with various troops before the outbreak of World War II.
Among several types of impact weapons, the most common is axe. Blade length battle ax was 9-15 cm, width - 12-15 cm, diameter of the hole for the handle - 2-3 cm, weight of the battle ax - from 200 to 500 g.
Archaeologists have discovered mixed-purpose axes weighing up to 450 g, and purely battle axes - mints- 200-350 g. The length of the battle ax handle was 60-70 cm.
Russian warriors also used special throwing axes (European name Francisca), which had rounded shapes. 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 high pressure developed on a surface that resists impact, axes have actually become a Russian folk weapon.
A much rarer type of ax was ax- a larger and heavier, up to 3 kg, and sometimes more, battle axe.
Mace also a common percussion hand weapon, having a spherical or pear-shaped pommel (impact part), sometimes equipped with spikes, which was mounted on a wooden or metal handle or forged along with the handle. In the late Middle Ages, maces with sharp spikes were called "morgenstern" - morning star - one of the earliest examples of "black" humor. Some clubs had a pyramidal shape with four spikes. It is precisely these pommels that are found on the first Russian maces, made of iron (less often bronze). The mace, which had several sharp edges (4-12) in the warhead, was called in Rus' feathered. 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, allowing you to penetrate more powerful armor. The handle of the mace reached 70 cm. A blow from such a mace, even delivered to 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 weapons, to the detriment of their fighting qualities, were terrifying.
Flail was a striking part attached to the handle with a strong flexible connection.
Battle Flail in fact it was a flail with a long handle.
Klevets, in fact, was the same mace with a single spike, sometimes slightly curved towards the handle.
Murder weapon with a beautiful Italian name plummeya was a combat flail with several striking parts.
Berdysh It was a wide, long ax in the shape of a crescent (with a blade length from 10 to 50 cm), usually ending in a point on the back of the 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 also dozens of other weapons that were certainly used by Russian soldiers. This and fighting pitchfork, And owls, and exotic guisarms.
The complexity and subtlety of its design amazes the medieval onion, sometimes assembled from dozens of parts. Note that the tension force of a combat bow reached 80 kg, while a modern men's sports bow has a tension force of only 35-40 kg.
Protective armor most often consisted of a helmet, cuirass-breastplate, handguards, leggings and some elements of less common defensive weapons. Helmets of the 9th-12th centuries were usually riveted from several (usually 4-5, less often 2-3) sector-shaped fragments, either with parts superimposed on each other, or with the use of overlapping plates. Helmets became visually monolithic (riveted together and polished in such a way that it looks like one piece of metal) only in the 13th century. Many helmets were complemented by aventail - a chain mail mesh covering the cheeks and neck. Sometimes, elements decorating the helmet were made from non-ferrous metals with gilding or silvering. One type of helmet becomes hemispherical, sits deeper on the head, covering the temple and ear, the other is very elongated and is also crowned with a high spire. The helmet is also being modernized into a shishak - a low, hemispherical helmet with a height less than the radius.
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 treated leather. Only this can explain such a small number of finds of elements of protective armor by archaeologists (until 1985, the following were found throughout the USSR: 37 helmets, 112 chain mail, parts of 26 plate and scale armor, 23 fragments of a shield). Leather, with appropriate processing, was almost as good in strength characteristics as low-quality steel. Her weight was almost an order of magnitude less! The hardness of the surface layer of treated leather turns out to be higher than the hardness of “soft” steels, some types of brass and copper. The main disadvantage of leather armor was its low durability. Three or four thermal cycling cycles, sometimes just prolonged rain, were enough to reduce the strength of leather armor by 2-3 times. That is, after 4-5 “exits,” the leather armor, strictly speaking, became unusable and passed on to the youngest “by rank” or condition.
Those typesetting armor that we see in medieval drawings were primarily leather. Leather pieces were riveted into rings or tied with leather braid. A helmet was also assembled from four to six pieces of leather. One may object to this remark: why are the remains of ancient edged weapons so insignificant? But edged weapons were reforged - after all, steel in the Middle Ages was expensive, 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 present us with warriors in scaly armor made of leather. Thus, on the famous “Carpet from Bahia” there is not a single warrior in chain mail stockings; Angus McBride, the main artist of the Osprey series, “dressed” almost half of the warriors he drew in the book “The Normans” in such stockings. Out of one and a half hundred medieval drawings, I found only seven, where warriors were depicted presumably in chain mail stockings, the majority - in leather braids and boots. Of course, chain mail stockings, forged plate armor, and steel helmets with a visor or “mask” had their place. But only the highest nobility could order and dress them - kings and princes, wealthy knights and boyars. Even a militant, rich city dweller, who gladly and proudly joined the militia, could not always afford full metal armor - it was so expensive and slow to complete. Steel plate armor became more and more widespread, but more often as tournament armor, from the second quarter of the 14th century.
An amazing, actually composite design in terms of material was a medieval shield. Between the layers of thick, specially processed leather that made it up, there were placed strong thin woven shape-forming branches, and flat slates, and layers of horn, and the same flat, thin metal flash. Such a shield was extremely 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 would consolidate 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 artisan, were many times inferior to the best samples. Hard-to-achieve, expensively purchased strength increasingly gave way to decorative decoration, which in Western Europe in part turned into a whole artificial science - heraldry.
Needless to say, the warriors dressed in metal armor made an exceptional impression on their contemporaries. Artists tried to capture the sparkle of graceful metal forms that amazed 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: Durer, Raphael, Botticelli, Bruegel, 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 depicted armor very carefully in icons and illustrations.
The elements of plate protective weapons, which once and forever found their place and went along with hoplites and centurions, knights and knights, cuirassiers and today's special forces, were and remain the helmet and cuirass. Although there is a “huge distance” between the “muscular” cuirass of the 4th century BC and today’s “composite” body armor.
Considering the weapons of a Russian warrior, we can assume a possible sequence of his actions in an offensive battle. On the side of the warrior hung a sword or saber in a leather or fabric sheath. A glancing blow from a saber with the center of gravity shifted to the tip, delivered forward and downward by a skillful hand, was more terrible than a blow from a sword.
At his belt, in a quiver made of birch bark covered with leather, the warrior kept up to two dozen arrows, and behind his back - a bow. The bow string was tightened immediately before use to avoid loss of the elastic properties of the bow. Onions required special careful preparation and care. They were often soaked in special brines and rubbed with compounds, the essence of which was kept secret.
The weapons of the Russian archer include a special bracer (protecting against a blow from 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 tighten the bowstring.
Often Russian soldiers used crossbow, today better known as a crossbow.
Sometimes heavy, and sometimes light, long spears served at the very beginning of the battle. If in the first clash it was not possible to hit the enemy with an arrow from afar, the warrior took up the sulitsa - a short throwing spear, a melee weapon.
As the mounted warrior approached the enemy, one weapon could replace another: from afar he showered the enemy with arrows, when he got closer, he tried to hit him with a thrown arrow, then he used a spear and, finally, a saber or sword. Although, rather, specialization came first, when archers showered the enemy with arrows, spearmen “took spears,” and “swordsmen” worked tirelessly with a sword or saber.
The armament of Russian soldiers was not inferior to the best Western European and Asian models, and was distinguished by its versatility, reliability and the highest combat qualities.
Unfortunately, the constant modernization of the best models, carried out sometimes 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 low preservation of the ancient book wealth of Rus' and the policies 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 Rus', the art of blacksmiths and shield makers, the design of throwing weapons...