Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. 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. 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. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. 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). |-- Editorials & Other Articles 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. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. [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. [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? Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. 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. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. They could also be wearing body armor. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! History. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. 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. [5], The Mozambique Drill is intended to ensure that the target is immediately stopped, by first placing two shots into the larger, easier-to-hit mass of the upper body, then, if the target is still active, following with a third, more precisely aimed and difficult head shot. 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. [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. How rude! [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. 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. [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)). This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. [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. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. 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. [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. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). 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. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. 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. 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. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. [23] In 1979, the military historian John Keegan noted that foreigners made up between a quarter and a third of the strength of the RLI. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. |-- Latest Breaking News I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. 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 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 . Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. When a double-tap to the chest failed to stop the aggressor, a third shot to the head ended the threat and created the Mozambique Drill. Rousseau related the story to an acquaintance, small arms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite Academy shooting school, who incorporated the "Mozambique Drill" into his modern technique shooting method. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. Live The Armory Life. |-- Places Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. [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. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. You have entered an incorrect email address! Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. 2003) (Kozinski, J. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. 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. Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. The. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. [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. During the Mozambican War of Independence, a Rhodesian mercenary by the name of Mike Rousseau was engaged in a firefight at the airport at Lourenco Marques. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! Thank you for your support. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". 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. [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. 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. [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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. [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. 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. Forum Categories The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Click [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. 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. 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 FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. Rousseau had a pistol. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. 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. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. |-- DU Groups This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. 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. Rousseau hit an . 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. 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. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. [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. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. [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. We can either live in a paranoid politically correct world frantically trying not to offend the Hitlers and Mohammeds, and blaming their victims when they kill, or we can be free men and women who have chosen to take the power to defend our rights into our own hands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. 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. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. [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. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. [67] Many of the volunteers were frustrated that they were paid only in Rhodesian dollars, as foreign banks would not process this currency and the Rhodesian government allowed no more than R$1,500 to be converted to other currencies. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules 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 . [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. [95] On 21 December that year the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 460 that, among other things, called for the British authorities to expel all "mercenaries" and South African forces from Southern Rhodesia. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. The Portuguese government banned Rhodesian recruitment in the late 1970s, but was unable to enforce the legislation. These volunteers felt that Ian Smith had betrayed white Rhodesians by signing this agreement. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. 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. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. [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. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. |-- Ask the Administrators The volunteers had a range of motivations. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. [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. Anything less than three seconds is very good. 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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 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. 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. [7] [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. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported.