rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

[22] The army units manned by full time personnel, which included a high proportion of white regular and conscripted soldiers, were the most powerful element of the security forces and formed a strategic reserve that responded to the guerrilla activities. The Portuguese forces collaborated with Rhodesia which had experience from the Bush War in the early 1960s to create special forces teams to deal with FRELIMO. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . [2][3] Accordingly, the government issued Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom in November 1965, with the colony becoming Rhodesia. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Rousseau hit an . [42][68] Two of the former French volunteers who remained in Zimbabwe after the war were sentenced to death for murdering a caf owner during a robbery in 1982 and were executed the next year. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. One of the earliest versions of this three-shot drill required law enforcement officers to fire two shots at center mass, then lower their weapon to the ready position while assessing the need for the third head shot. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. My Forums, Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. Fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, at 10 paces. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. Thank you for your support. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . page. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. [23] Other volunteers were posted to a range of units, including protection companies mainly made up of black soldiers and the largely white Grey's Scouts and Rhodesian Armoured Corps. History. Live The Armory Life. The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. here to send us a message. Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. An accurate shot to the T-zone (the area between the eyebrows and upper lip, also called the ocular cavity) damages the brain and central nervous system and secures instant incapacitation of the target. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog [36][74] These volunteers may have further encouraged the Rhodesian Security Forces use of the 'body count' of guerrillas killed as a measure of success, with this having been a key metric in Vietnam. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. | Donate, AboutDU Soldier of Fortune ran large numbers of articles on foreigners in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War; each edition published between 1975 and 1980 included at least one article on the subject. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. The concept of the Mozambique Drill is to ensure a threat is stopped even if the initial center mass shots fail to get the job done. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. The articles in Soldier of Fortune reflected Rhodesian government propaganda, as they claimed that the country was a western democracy, the war was being fought against communism and did not discuss the oppression of Rhodesia's black majority. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. All other white military personnel, other than members of the Selous Scouts unit that had a reputation for atrocities, were given an assurance that they would not be required to leave the military. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. "The Mozambique Drill: A History and How To", "Lesson Plan: Immediate Target Engagement (CMC-22 Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course 08/12/2008)", "History of the Failure Drill: Mozambique Revolt Roots", "Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mozambique_Drill&oldid=1141379493, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 19:40. Its much harder than you may think. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Forum Categories The academics Jacob Ware and John Campbell stated in 2022 that people from more than fifteen countries had volunteered to fight for Rhodesia, including "several hundred" Americans. Got a message for Democratic Underground? This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'democraticunderground_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_2',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-democraticunderground_com-medrectangle-1-0');report this ad |-- Editorials & Other Articles We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. White notes that this was "not because of how they were paid for fighting but because of why they were fighting", with it being argued that the volunteers had involved themselves in a war that was not theirs. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. All Rights Reserved. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. |-- General Discussion [101] Robin Moore included profiles of twelve volunteers as part of a non-fiction book he wrote in 1976 that argued that the Rhodesian government was not racist and sanctions against it should be lifted. Body armor, extra thick clothing, psychoactive drugs, or even a massive adrenaline dump are all reasons those first two shots may not be effective on your target. Rousseau was carrying his Browning HP35 pistol when he turned a corner and found himself face-to-face with a guerilla armed with an AK-47. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! [46] Economic factors also influenced some of the volunteers, as they believed that the Rhodesian Security Forces offered better career prospects than those available in their home country. [14] Rhodesia's security situation deteriorated during the mid-1970s when the nationalists were able to establish bases in Mozambique as Portuguese rule faltered and finally ended in 1975. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. Anything less than three seconds is very good. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. Live The Armory Life. Editors Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. [58], Foreign volunteers who were accepted were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Rhodesia, and the Rhodesian government considered them to be members of the security forces rather than mercenaries. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. Its a handy tool to have in your defensive tool box just in case shots to center mass dont accomplish what they are supposed to do. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning HP35 pistol and fired two bullets into the target's upper chest, usually enough to incapacitate or kill outright. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. Copyright 2023 Jews Can Shoot. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. These In 1976 former Portuguese officials offered 2,000 white soldiers who had served with the UNITA nationalist movement in Angola until that country's independence. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. He was fighting in the. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. The volunteers were often labelled as mercenaries by opponents of the Rhodesian regime, though the Rhodesian government did not regard or pay them as such. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. Two to the body, one to the head. [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. |-- Ask the Administrators Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill.. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Click Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Remember, the Mozambique drill is designed for a defensive situation where the first two shots failed to stop an attacker. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [63], After completing training, many of the volunteers were assigned to the all-white Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) and particularly its 3 Commando sub-unit. | ContactUs | PrivacyPolicy. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. Over the years, this drill has morphed into a variety of other drills and, if you put any two firearms instructors together, youll get a different opinion as to how its to be properly executed. Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. |-- Latest Breaking News He is a contributing editor to numerous gun-enthusiast magazines and websites, including Combat Handguns, Black Guns, Gun Tests, Gun Digest, Gun World, Ballistic, range365.com, SHOT Business, and others. The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. The ZAPU argued that the failure of the British and US governments to stop the flow of volunteers was a barrier to reaching a negotiated settlement with the Rhodesian government, and demanded in 1977 that this be halted. [77] Rhodesia attempted to counter the "mercenary" claim by processing the volunteers through the Department of Immigration and framing them as prospective Rhodesian citizens, though few ever applied for citizenship. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. Fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, at 10 paces (~7.5 . Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill., Practical Variations to the Mozambique Drill, El Presidente Drill Assessing Your Shooting Skills, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics takes a look at the Mozambique Drill and puts his own spin on it, suggesting for arguments sake to try firing all three shots to the head instead of two to the chest and one to the head. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. [6], The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. Seeing that the guerrilla was still advancing, Rousseau made an attempt at a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. All rights reserved. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. He finished the job with a headshot. It is vital to mix up your training, firing different numbers of shots into your targets, at different locations, because you never know if your first shot or your fifteenth is going to be the one that stops the threat. [82] British citizens were prohibited from joining the Rhodesian Security Forces under the terms of an embargo enacted in 1968, with those who did so potentially facing fines or imprisonment. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? At the start signal, draw your weapon and fire two shots to the chest (V1 zone), followed by one shot to the head (V2 zone). No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRAs American Rieman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digests Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. While Im no gunfighter and there isnt any (sane) person who wants to learn gunfighting from me, Id offer another alternative that might be more slightly attainable to more people, and which is suggested by our own Stephen Wenger based off of his decades in studying armed self-defense. Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. The views Today, with the proliferation of zombies in our culture, it could be called the zombie drill or zombie check, because a head shot is the only way to kill a zombie. They also feared for their lives due to a perception that a black majority government would place them on trial for murder and other crimes. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. The most common motivation was opposition to governments led by black people, but other volunteers were motivated by anti-communism or a desire for adventure. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. If youre looking for some variety in your training, one practical application of the drill is to fire the first two shots to the targets center mass (V1), then take two steps back to create distance before the third shot. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. The. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. These letters were closely scrutinised, as many of the men who had written them were considered "obviously nuts" by the Rhodesian Army's recruitment officer Major Nick Lamprecht. [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. [80] Many Africans believed that the inaction of the western governments demonstrated their lack of commitment to combating white minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa. You have entered an incorrect email address! Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. The Mozambique Drill, which is also known as the Failure Drill, Failure to Stop drill, the "Djibouti Shooty", or, informally, "two to the chest, one to the head," is a close-quarters shooting technique that supposedly originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, in the Mozambican War of Independence, hence the name. The drill is also sometimes called the Failure Drill, as the third and final shot is made in response to a situation when the double tap fails to stop an advancing threat. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. [7] dissenting.). [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. In the chaotic maelstrom that swallowed up untold treasure and an entire generation of people, soldiers of fortune found employment opportunities on a previously unprecedented scale. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. By September 1964, things began to change. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. [69], Despite the Rhodesian government's claim that it did not recruit mercenaries, the British mercenary Peter McAleese was accepted into the Rhodesian Army during 1976. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. He is the leader of the Apex Predators, an infamous outfit of ruthless freelance Pilots. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check.

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