rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau
[8] The historian Donal Lowry has endorsed Evans' views, noting also that "the Rhodesia Front sought to combine the notion that Rhodesia embodied the best of true Britishness, the notion that white Rhodesians were the sort of people who once made the Great" of Britain, while turning to America as the only remaining champion of the Free World. 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. |-- Topic Forums [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. |-- General Discussion Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. [66], The volunteers typically found conditions in Rhodesia to be tough, and those who had joined up due to a belief that they would enjoy a good lifestyle were rapidly disappointed. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. "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. The Rhodesian military also adopted some of the terminology used by Americans in Vietnam, such as referring to guerrillas as 'gooks' and labelling one of their supply lines the 'Ho Chi Minh trail'. This article is featured in [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot]. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! 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. 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. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. 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. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. Sundry populist uprisings supported by distant communist benefactors strived to nip at the forces and institutions of the European colonial powers long enough to draw blood. Big Forums [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". While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. 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. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. Britain and the United Nations Security Council imposed wide-ranging trade and other sanctions on Rhodesia with the objective of forcing it to return to its previous status. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). here to send us a message. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the [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 two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. 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. This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules Failure in a gunfight is not an option. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. 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. 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. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. : 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. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. 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. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. 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. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. Thank you for your support. Home It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. 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. 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. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Live The Armory Life. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. During fighting at the. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. [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. 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. 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 he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. He finished the job with a headshot. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. Oops, there's been an error. 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. The. 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. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. 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 is performed for both accuracy and time. [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. | Donate, AboutDU FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [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). While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot] is conducting firearms training Freedom is not defended with empty idealism easily perverted into appeasement of evil, but with the force of arms.. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. 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). 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. dissenting.). |-- Latest Breaking News [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. All Rights Reserved. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. 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. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. It kind of worked. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. 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. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. 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. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla 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. [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.