Cossack special forces: Plastuns

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Plastuns or Cossack special forces for several centuries were a worthy defense of the Russian lands. They were a real threat to all enemies of the state for several centuries. Great military leaders admired their courage, skill, ingenuity and endurance. Why were the Turks, Circassians, Tatars and even European armies so afraid of the scouts?

1. Who are they

These warriors are natives of the Zaporozhye Sich. It was there that they became true masters of their craft, honing skills and strengthening character.

As for the name, there are two versions. Some believe that it is formed from the Ukrainian "plastuvati", which means "to crawl" in translation. Others - the name came from the nickname of one of the Cossacks, who was called so - Plastun.

Gradually, over time, they formed special units. This branch of the military performed various dangerous and very difficult tasks, including sabotage and reconnaissance.

At the turn of the two centuries, the eighteenth and nineteenth, the Plastun detachments became part of the ChKV, after which they became part of the Kuban Cossacks. They were entrusted with the protection of Russia, or rather its borders, from the South. In fact, the scouts are the prototype of our special forces and it was formed in the North Caucasus.

2. The nature of the supercossack

Even when the scouts had nothing to do with the elite of the Cossack troops, it was very difficult to become one of them. In most cases, this specialty was inherited. Slightly less often - to those who since childhood served soldiers with vast experience and skills. But this is far from all that was required.

The plastuner should have had excellent health, excellent physical strength. He had to be cold-blooded, hardy, patient, unpretentious in terms of living conditions. Not everyone can sit for several hours in icy water or in open sunlight in the heat. As a rule, all the scouts were inconspicuous and calm. Memorable external features and tough temper, hot temper of these warriors could ruin.

3. Skills

These military units, by virtue of their specifics, performed much more duties than everyone else.

In this regard, they had to be able to do almost everything: be good saboteurs, ideal shooters, excellent sappers, artillerymen, scouts, swimmers in troubled rivers and rock climbers, know the techniques of hand-to-hand combat.

Plastuns trained for a long time, which helped them to survive in the harsh conditions of the Caucasus and fight against the highlanders who make regular raids. Some of their skills have received new designations.

So the ability to cover up the tracks when returning from the next mission was called "fox's tail", an instant attack was called "wolf's mouth", and hitting a target, focusing on sound, even if it is not visible, was called "a shot to crunch."

4. Uniforms

The Cossacks of this unit wore very light, not conspicuous, comfortable clothes. She should not become an obstacle to maneuvers, speed of movement and stealth.

Basically, they were: a worn Circassian coat, an old hat, leather chuvyaki, like those worn by the indigenous inhabitants of the foothills. All this did not distinguish the scouts and concealed their movements. On the belt there was usually a dagger, a pouch where bullets were kept, and a powder flask. In the hands was a fitting, beating at long distances. Another required attribute is a whip. It was used both in hunting and in battle. She also drove the horses.

5. Military action

Plastuns participated in all wars of the state without exception. The first was the war between Turkey and Russia in the period from 1787 to 1791. The last large-scale was the First World War. But the Plastun division became part of the army only in 1842.

Often the infantrymen lost in comparison with the plastuns. Their skills and abilities have led the army to victory many times. Many scouts became famous, and their names were passed from mouth to mouth, songs and legends were composed about them.

After the revolution, the Plastuns, like all the Cossacks, were practically sentenced to gradual destruction. In any case, the power of the new state was systematically moving towards this. Someone organized uprisings, someone went abroad.

Despite this, during the Second World War, these Cossacks also did not stand aside and became participants in serious battles. In the West, the skills and abilities of the plastuns were highly appreciated.