rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. 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. | Discussion [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? [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. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. The Mozambique Drill is a close-quarter shooting technique in which the shooter fires twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap to the center of mass), momentarily assesses the hits, then follows them up with a carefully aimed shot to the head of the target. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. At the time of UDI, the Rhodesian Army had a strength of over 18,400, including 15,000 reservists, the Rhodesian Air Force had a small but modern fleet of combat aircraft and the paramilitary British South Africa Police included 7,000 full time and 25,000 reserve personnel. 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. Transitioning between targets can take some getting used to, especially for shooters still trying to get some experience under their belts. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. 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. 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. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. In 1977 the pretender to the Albanian throne, Leka I, asked the Rhodesian government to train a battalion of Albanians that he hoped to recruit. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 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. All Rights Reserved. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Two to the body, one to the head. [22] The number of white conscripts in the security forces was also increased by considerably expanding the age groups of men who were required to serve and the periods of active duty reservists needed to undertake. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. After a quick assessment of the situation, Rousseau tried for a shot to the mans central nervous system. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill.. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. [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. 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. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Due to the sanctions against Rhodesia, these ads were generally lodged via front organisations and were vague about the country the volunteers would serve in. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. 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. [44] Opponents of the regime frequently highlighted the issue of 'mercenaries' fighting for Rhodesia, and claimed that they were often mentally unstable and had little regard for civilian casualties. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. "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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. They could also be wearing body armor. FRELIMO attacked targets in typical guerrilla-style warfare and, like other small insurgent forces, they made full use of hit and run tactics, their knowledge of the terrain, and used the monsoon season to their advantage. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. 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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. 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. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. You sweat just standing still. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 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. 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. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. |-- DU Groups 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. 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. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. Although two shots to the vitals of an attacker will stop a threat cold in most situations, it doesnt work 100 percent of the time. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. The historian Luise White noted in 2004 that "the figure most sources cite is 1,500 foreign soldiers, of whom perhaps 400 were American", though the Rhodesian Army put the number at 1,000 including 100 Americans. 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. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. The Triple Tap Callsign can be unlocked by playing with the Mozambique, and Triple Tap XL can be unlocked via Advocate Gift. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. 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. 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. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. [70], Ware and Campbell wrote in 2022 that the foreign volunteers had little influence on the war, and the pressure from western governments on the Rhodesian government to agree to a transition to majority rule was of greater importance. The young African not only failed to fall, but he advanced toward Rousseau with murderous intent. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. Rousseau relayed this story to Jeff Cooper, who then began employing this failure to stop drill in his teaching at Gunsite. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. [23], The expansion of the security forces, increasing battle casualties and a decline in the white population due to high rates of emigration led to serious shortages of white personnel that greatly hindered the Rhodesian war effort. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. LLC. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. [37] Some of the Americans volunteered to work as security guards on farms in Rhodesia as this offered the opportunity to fight communists while receiving higher pay than that offered by the security forces. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. 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. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. [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. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. 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. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. The Rhodesian government actively recruited white personnel from other countries from the mid-1970s to address manpower shortages in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. [18] As the war continued, additional army and police units were raised and the periods of active service reservists were required to undertake was increased. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. Judge turns down New Jerseys request for stay in NSSF lawsuit, MSU professor illustrates problem with gun control advocates, 71-year-old Philadelphia man shoots back at armed robbers, sends them fleeing, Texas congressman faces censure over gun control support, MO lawmaker believes he can get GOP support on gun control, Bump stocks back on store shelves in three states, Colorado Democrats introduce assault weapon ban, Bill reintroduced to abolish the Tiahrt Amendments, Nebraska Constitutional Carry bill overcomes filibuster threat, appears poised for passage, Former D.A. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. [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. While it might seem strange at first, its not a long stretch to connect the dots from a country off the east coast of Africa, to a Rhodesian mercenary, to a shooting technique, and finally to someone who conceal carries and trains to defend themselves. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. Rounding a corner Rousseau found himself unexpectedly face to face with a FRELIMO guerilla armed with an AK47 at a range of about ten paces. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. [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. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight.

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