This invention relates to an apparatus for absorption of mechanical energy, particularly energy of very strong shocks. It comprises an immobile cylinder and, inserted in it in telescopic fashion, a mobile part consisting of at least one mobile cylinder with a bottom and a mobile plunger inserted into the last cylinder, the empty space between the cylinders and between the last cylinder and the plunger being filled with a medium absorbing energy of shocks and vibrations and being characterized by viscous flow in static state and by high elasticity in dynamic state. Any of the mobile cylinders is provided with a plunger and a baffle dividing the cylinder into two chambers, one chamber being filled with a visco-elastic medium absorbing mechanical energy, and the other chamber being filled with a visco-elastic medium compressed to a pressure higher than 1000 h Pa.