rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. My Forums, Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. "All too many of the other great tragedies of historyStalins atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a fewwere perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. [87] The historian Hugh Patterson noted that the relatively small numbers of volunteers from the UK indicates that "however vocal the support for Rhodesia by some on the political right, very few men were actually willing to put their futures on the line for the Smith [Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith] regime". It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. It kind of worked. [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. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . [42] Small numbers of black ex-Flechas from Mozambique were also accepted after the end of Portuguese rule in that country; they were paid less than white soldiers. 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. Mike Rousseau, a Rhodesian mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence, was armed only with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, and he rounded a corner at Loureno Marques (now Maputo) Airport and came face-to-face with an African guerilla armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, less than 25 feet away. [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. Home Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. Position a silhouette target (preferably with outlined V1 and V2 zones) five yards from the firing line. At the start signal, draw from concealment and fire two shots into the V1 zone and one shot into the V2 zone as fast as you can do so without missing either zone. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". These In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. 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. A former police ofcer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected rearms authorities writing on the subject today. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. Many could well have been avoided or mitigated, had the perpetrators known their intended victims were equipped with a rifle and twenty bullets apiece, as the Militia Act required here. Rumored to have begun with Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau and adopted into coursework at Gunsight Academy, the Mozambique Drill is intended to drop an advancing threat immediately. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. 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 . [4][12] The resistance to the Rhodesian regime was dominated by two black nationalist movements, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). 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. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [86] Due to the difficulty of drafting legislation that could effectively ban Britons from serving with Rhodesia or enforcing the measures that were brought in, there is no record of any British citizens being punished for serving with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the war. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. During fighting at the Loureno Marques airport (modern-day Maputo ), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, 10 paces away and armed with an AK-47. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. Military historians Paul L. Moorcraft and Peter McLaughlin believe the number was likely around 1,400, but have noted that estimates from other experts range as high as 2,000. Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Forum Categories It may be ironic that the Mozambique Drill is a technique used with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence from 1964 to 1974. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. [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. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. If a few hundred Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. By September 1964, things began to change. 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. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. If a few hundred Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful of weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars." He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. LLC. The volunteers frequently received a hostile response from Rhodesians in the units they were posted to, and many ended their contracts early as a result. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [74], The Canadian spree killer Mathew Lamb was able to join the Rhodesian Army in 1974 after being released from a mental institution. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [85], In 1977 the British government provided a tentative response to an American proposal that the United Nations Security Council adopt a resolution requiring UN members to prevent their citizens from serving in the Rhodesian military. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. [92] Many of the Americans wrongly believed that their government opposed their presence in Rhodesia, with articles in Soldier of Fortune and works by the author Robin Moore also claiming this. Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. [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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. It was also unclear whether serving in the Rhodesian military was illegal under laws that prohibited service in foreign militaries as the British did not recognise Rhodesia's independence. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. To guarantee instant incapacitation by impacting the brain and central nervous system, the head shot must be delivered to the area between eyebrows and upper lip, otherwise, various bony areas of the skull could deflect the bullet. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. In 2021 White wrote that the numbers of foreign volunteers may have been small, and the ex-Rhodesian generals she had interviewed "scoffed at me when I asked if there were fifteen hundred foreigners in the Rhodesian Army". While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. [7] Fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered an enemy combatant, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, at 10 paces (7.5m (25ft)). [45] Some American volunteers were attracted by a belief that the war in Rhodesia was comparable to that which had been fought on the American frontier. aka Failure Drill. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. If I were to guess, I would say Rousseaus ammo was a 115-grain with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. Mike Rousseau was a trained soldier so he instinctively presented his handgun and shot the guerilla twice in the chest, launching both rounds in quick succession. 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. The Mozambique Drill,[1] also known as the Failure Drill, or Failure to Stop drill and, informally, as "two to the body, one to the head,"[2][3] is a close-quarters shooting technique that requires the shooter to fire twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap or hammered pair to the center of mass), and follow up with a more difficult head shot that, if properly placed, will instantaneously stop the target if the previous shots failed to do so. Rousseau had a pistol. Id argue that if the two shots at (and hopefully in) the chest of an aggressor fails to convince him to break off his attack, then youd be better to drop your aim to fire the third shot (and perhaps fourth and fifth shots) at the pelvis next. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Jews Can Shoot is a civil rights group that honors the memory of the Holocaust to preserve, protect and defend the Second Amendment and was formed for the purpose of education regarding gun laws, gun rights, legal precedent and cause-related advocacy. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. [66], Under the terms of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement that ended the war the British government resumed control over Rhodesia in December 1979, with the country temporarily reverting to the colony of Southern Rhodesia until elections could be held. Forums | Journals| Store This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. The term refers to his encounter with an AK-47 armed guerilla at an airport in Mozambique where he was armed with a Browning Hi-Power. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. In a veritable ocean of blood, one otherwise trivial engagement gained lasting notoriety. 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. This drill was popularised by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence, who was the inspiration for the character of Kuben Blisk. [16] The academic Kyle Burke has written that some anti-government paramilitary forces in the United States draw inspiration from the volunteers, and cite them as an example when encouraging violence against African Americans. He also noted that the party drew on the ideas and language used by the contemporary radical right movement in the United States to justify UDI. [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. |-- General Discussion Got a message for Democratic Underground? He finished the job with a headshot. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . Portugal said it supported the Mozambique people and designated it an overseas territory in the 1950s in lieu of calling it a colony, but it was still a colony no matter how Portugal presented it. There is evidence that the Departments of Justice and State tacitly encouraged Americans to volunteer for Rhodesia as part of efforts to prevent the country collapsing before a negotiated solution to the war could be finalised. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. 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. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. Heres the connection. The Portuguese government banned Rhodesian recruitment in the late 1970s, but was unable to enforce the legislation. Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. All Rights Reserved. The British military did not take up a suggestion by the FCO that it warn servicemen against enlisting with the Rhodesian Security Forces on the grounds that serving as a mercenary was not actually illegal. 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). Rousseau hit an . From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. 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. slams Colorado gun control bills, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, Russell Brand was challenged to give examples of MSNBC pushing misinformation (that was a BAD idea), Trump Reveals What He'll Do If He's Indicted, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . |-- Places Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and, Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous, . The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. [30] As a result, White has observed that the volunteers were typically more willing to fight and even die for the ideology of the Rhodesian Front party than for Rhodesia itself. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. Hearing this story, Cooper later incorporated this three-shot drill into his program of instruction as a way to end a fight that cannot be immediately stopped with bullets fired into the chest. [94], Many of the foreign volunteers opposed the March 1978 Internal Settlement, under which the white Rhodesian government agreed to cede power to moderate black leaders. [17] The Army's structure of administrative corps was similar to that of the British Army, and many of its officers had undergone training in the United Kingdom. [61] These pay rates were lower than those in some other armies; for instance, they were around half the levels in the United States Army and between 50 and 60 per cent of the Australian Army's pay scale. With small arms, mortars, and artillery of predominantly Russian and Chinese origin, guerrilla fighters in places like the Congo and Mozambique engaged in pitiless unconventional warfare that saw widespread atrocities. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. |-- Ask the Administrators These men were often directed to wear Rhodesian uniforms, and the South African government falsely claimed that some had volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Its much harder than you may think. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. List of battleships of the United States Navy, List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces, http://practicalfirearmstraining.com/reading/HandgunDrillsPDF.pdf, Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, USMC manual CMC-37R of 8 Feb 2006: METHOD OF TARGET ENGAGEMENTS. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. He was fighting in the. In 1980, two Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers, Larry Mudgett and John Helms, attended pistol training at Gunsite and received permission from Cooper to teach the technique to the LAPD, and to rename it the Failure Drill (concerned that "Mozambique" might have racist overtones). Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! There arent a lot of guarantees in a gunfight, but the Failure Drill just might be your best defense in time of need, particularly if you are facing an opponent wearing body armor. |-- Latest Breaking News |-- Archives Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. The Portuguese used WWII vintage pistols in their two decades long colonial wars in Angola and Mozambique (some claim the gun Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau used in the original Mozambique . [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. The. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. 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. [89] This law can only be enforced within the United States, meaning that American citizens who enlisted to fight for Rhodesia while overseas could not be prosecuted. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal.

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rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau