The article describes what boarding sabers are, what they are for, what are their differences from other types of sabers and who they were used for.
Nowadays, residents of more or less developed countriesIt has long been accustomed to the fact that with urgent need distances are easily overcome. Any of them can be quickly and even comfortably crossed by plane, train or ship. But our ancestors did not have similar technologies, and for a long time only ships remained the only means of communication between the continents or with the coastal zone.
People began to use them back in immemorialtime. Over time, their design changed for the better, which had a beneficial effect on speed, reliability and carrying capacity. When shipbuilding developed to the desired level, battles often began to flare up in the open sea, and for a long time pirates were a thunderstorm of the seas and oceans. This lasted until special groups of counteraction and naval fleets were created, which were engaged in the protection of civilian ships or in the special trapping of pirates. And probably the most favorite weapon of criminals were boarding sabers. So what is it, what are they good for and how were they applied? In this we will understand.
Для начала разберемся с терминологией.Saber is a melee melee weapon with a long and curved blade. And he has one cutting edge, and that is what distinguishes him from the sword. For example, the Japanese katana is a saber, not a sword, as is commonly believed. The same applies to weapons such as boarding sabers.
Boarding is the rapprochement of two ships withsubsequent fixing them relative to each other by ropes or other means and the clash of the living forces of the crew of both ships. From here comes the famous expression “board the ship,” that is, seize someone else’s ship and kill the crew. Boarding is rarely long, usually a transient clash, where almost any weapon is used.
The most effective weapons over time wererecognized boarding sabers. The reason for this was several factors. Firstly, their size: in the commotion of a battle it is not always convenient to wield a long blade, as well as too heavy, intended for open space. Secondly, the curved shape allowed for deep and strong slashing blows. And he helped this as a massive saber weight. Thirdly, the fighter’s hand was closed by a guard and a special projection, which not only protected the extremity of the pirate or soldier, but also made it possible to deliver powerful blows in hand-to-hand combat in the manner of a brass knuckle.
It is for these reasons that such weapons quicklydeserved universal acceptance. It was used by both pirates and coast guard detachments or army sailors. So now we know what a boarding sword is.
Of course, only with sabers armament of pirates andsailors in ancient times did not end. But if we consider it pirate, which is convenient during the battle when seizing a merchant or other vessel, then in addition to boarding sabers swords with rapiers were also popular. True, they were preferred only by those who knew how to handle them well, since such weapons are not intended for slashing blows, but only for piercing, which is not always convenient in combat.
Ordinary daggers and dirks were popular.But in the Middle Ages, when a firearm with a flintlock was invented, the pirates were very fond of pistols. True, only as a weapon of last chance. Sometimes one or two shots disappeared from them, after which everyone switched to cold weapons.
Common dirks were also common, their narrow long blades allowed to penetrate the enemy's defense and inflict deep wounds.
And by the way, the Russian short boarding sword is oftencalled a cleaver. This is partly true, as it has a constructive similarity with the latter. Nonetheless, piracy in our area was not as widespread as in other parts of the world.
Gradually, the role of such an attack decreased, and ineventually wound down. The reason for this was the development of firearms - cannons, multiply charged rifles and machine guns. And later, special anti-ship armament came into use. And now it’s impossible to board a ship that bears several machine guns or rocket launchers. True, in some remote parts of the world piracy still exists, for example in Somalia. But Somali pirates never attack heavily armed ships and choose trade, with no means of protection. And this, albeit with a stretch, but you can call the boarding.
Boarding sabers are used only whendirect boarding when speed, impact force and a short blade for maneuver are important. At the usual time on land it is more profitable to use long swords, rapiers, swords or sabers.
