The volunteers had a range of motivations. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. 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 new Prime Minister Robert Mugabe directed shortly after the election that "mercenaries" be dismissed as they were among the "irregular features of the present Army" and were "not needed". Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. |-- Latest Breaking News I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. 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. Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. 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. You sweat just standing still. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. |-- Archives Position a silhouette target (preferably with outlined V1 and V2 zones) five yards from the firing line. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. 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. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRAs American Rieman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digests Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. [51] As a result, there are a range of estimates of the numbers of foreigners who travelled to Rhodesia to serve with the security forces: British citizens made up the majority of the foreign volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. Forums | Journals| Store opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. [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. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. [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. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. [36] In 1976 some current and former British soldiers were sent unsolicited leaflets that encouraged them to enlist in the Rhodesian Army and explained its conditions of service. 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. During fighting at the. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. 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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [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. 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. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. 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. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. 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. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Thank you for your support. |-- The DU Lounge Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. [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? Anything less than three seconds is very good. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. |-- Political Videos Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. 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. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. 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. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. 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'. [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. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. 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. [69], Despite the Rhodesian government's claim that it did not recruit mercenaries, the British mercenary Peter McAleese was accepted into the Rhodesian Army during 1976. | ContactUs | PrivacyPolicy. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 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. The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a |-- Topic Forums As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. [7] So why not just send the first shot to the head? Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . [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. 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. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. 2023 Springfield Armory. 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. [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. 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. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. [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. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. 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. Forum Categories Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. [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 Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. 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. Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! Click These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the These volunteers felt that Ian Smith had betrayed white Rhodesians by signing this agreement. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. [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. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. 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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. 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. 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 told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. If you start slinging your lead outside of the V1 or V2 zones, slow it down. page. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. 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. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog |-- Editorials & Other Articles [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. 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. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. Rousseau hit an . [8] The academic Michael Evans has written that "the Fronts world-struggle ideology was based on a conspiratorial interpretation of modern politics that emphasised virulent forms of Anglophobia, anti-communism, anti-internationalism, and anti-liberalism". According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). [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. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. 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. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. 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. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 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."
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