The lorica hamata is a type of mail armour used by the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. During the 1st century it was starting to be supplemented by lorica segmentata, but had been reintroduced as sole standard-issue armor by the 4th century. It was issued for both primary Legionary and secondary Auxilia troops. They were mostly manufactured out of bronze or iron. It alternated rows of closed washer-like rings punched from iron sheets and rows of riveted rings from drawn wire that ran horizontally, producing a very flexible, reliable and strong armour. Each ring had an inside diameter of about 5 mm, and an outside diameter of about 7 mm.