rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. It kind of worked. 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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. |-- Topic Forums [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. : The British Military Advisory and Training Team and the Creation of the Zimbabwe National Army", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foreign_volunteers_in_the_Rhodesian_Security_Forces&oldid=1135864497, The historians Peter Godwin and Ian Hancock have written that foreign volunteers represented only a "tiny minority" of the Rhodesian military in 1972, with 90 per cent of recruits being Rhodesians and most of the remainder. Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. 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. 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. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. 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. 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. 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. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Those who were considered potentially suitable were sent information packs, and asked to supply documentation to support their application; preference was given to applicants who provided notarized documents in their response. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. 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. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. 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. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British colony located in southern Africa whose economy and government was dominated by the small white minority of its population. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". You have entered an incorrect email address! 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 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). [40], Foreign volunteers for the Rhodesian Security Forces were generally motivated by personal political and ideological beliefs or a desire for adventure. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. Two American ex-Marine deserters from the Forces who robbed jewelry stores in Salisbury, while carrying stolen Uzis, were involved in a shoot-out with authorities at the South African border. Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. He was fighting in the. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. All Rights Reserved. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). After a quick assessment of the situation, Rousseau tried for a shot to the mans central nervous system. [71] There were concerns that many of the volunteers were motivated more by a desire to fight in a war than a commitment to Rhodesia. 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. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the 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 immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. 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. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. |-- Latest Breaking News 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. [106], Foreign volunteers in the Rhodesian Security Forces, Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election, "Foreign Fighter Problem: What the War in Rhodesia Means for Ukraine", "Fine-mannered, articulate and urbane: the mercenary as deadly romantic", "Security Council resolution 460 (1979) [Southern Rhodesia]", "Rhodesia: Oral Answers to Questions Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16th January 1980", "Many Rhodesian Whites Threaten to Quit Jobs", "Rhodesia's Approach to Counterinsurgency: A Preference for Killing", "Mercenary Activity: United States Neutrality Laws and Enforcement", "The White House and White Africa: Presidential Policy on Rhodesia 1965-79", "The 'New Model' Armies of Africa? This is a drill created during the Mozambique War of Independence, when a Rhodesian Mercenary (Mike Rousseau) had an up-close encounter with an opponent wielding an AK-47. [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. 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. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. Copyright 2023 Jews Can Shoot. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. You can support the efforts of Jews Can Shoot that Nothing Says Never Again Like an Armed Jew. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. These Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. 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 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). 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 . However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. [10] This ideology attracted support from many mainstream conservative politicians and military veterans in the United Kingdom and United States, as well as from some far right groups in those countries. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. 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] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. Two to the body, one to the head. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. 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. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). The views The party was deeply committed to maintaining the white minority's status, with this motivating a decision to declare independence from the United Kingdom rather than submit to a transition to majority rule. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. [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. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. [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. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. They could also be wearing body armor. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. Forum Categories [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. [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. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. [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. 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. Live The Armory Life. Due to factors such as body armor, the bolstering effect of drugs, or failure to hit vital organs, the body shots may not be immediately effective, necessitating the third shot. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. 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. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . [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. 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. He finished the job with a headshot. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. Taken aback by the failure of his double tap to stop the threat, Rousseau took a moment, leveled his pistol at the charging mans face, and fired a third round. [7] Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. [9] It took pains to not be seen as racially or politically extreme, and the party's rhetoric was focused on the need to combat the perceived communist threat rather than the goal of sustaining racial superiority. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. [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. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. However, here we are more concerned with your shooting than tactics, because the subtle nuances of the proper tactics can vary from situation to situation. 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. [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. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. [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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. 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. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. [19][20] In April 1979, 60,000 members of the military and police were on active duty to protect that month's Rhodesian general election. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. The so-called Mozambique Drill (two shots to the chest, one to the head) was actually developed by accident by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the War of Independence in Mozambique when two pistol shots to the torso failed to bring down an enemy guerrilla. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. [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. [74], The Canadian spree killer Mathew Lamb was able to join the Rhodesian Army in 1974 after being released from a mental institution. 2023 Springfield Armory. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. Anything less than three seconds is very good.

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rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau