rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. [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. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. During fighting at the. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. You have entered an incorrect email address! [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. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. How rude! 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. [96][97] In January 1980 the British Lord Privy Seal, Ian Gilmour, stated that the British government had committed during the negotiations that led to the Lancaster House Agreement to not remove foreigners from the Rhodesian military prior to the election. here to send us a message. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. page. 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. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. 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. 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. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. Save my name and email to use for future comments. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. 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. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. These men were often directed to wear Rhodesian uniforms, and the South African government falsely claimed that some had volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. All too many of the other great tragedies of history - Stalin's atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a few - were perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. LLC. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. [43] The academic Luise White has written that they were commonly opposed to the establishment of governments run by black people and did not have any particular commitment to Rhodesia itself. This drill was popularised by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence, who was the inspiration for the character of Kuben Blisk. 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). |-- Latest Breaking News Oops, there's been an error. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. [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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. 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. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. "All too many of the other great tragedies of historyStalins atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a fewwere perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. The Rhodesian government attempted several strategies to address these shortages. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. 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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. Rousseau hit an . [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. 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. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. 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). FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. If you start slinging your lead outside of the V1 or V2 zones, slow it down. [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 later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. 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. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. The volunteers had a range of motivations. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. [46], In addition to the actual volunteers, thousands of South African Police and South African Defence Force (SADF) personnel were deployed to Rhodesia by the South African government to serve in or alongside the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him. aka Failure Drill. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. This article is featured in This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. [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. Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. 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. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. The volunteers frequently received a hostile response from Rhodesians in the units they were posted to, and many ended their contracts early as a result. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. [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. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. 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. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. [60] The volunteers also received the same pay as white Rhodesians,[43] between $US 4,000 and $US 7,000 annually. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. 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. |-- Places All rights reserved. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. |-- DU Groups Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. All other white military personnel, other than members of the Selous Scouts unit that had a reputation for atrocities, were given an assurance that they would not be required to leave the military. 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. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. All Rights Reserved. [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. [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. [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. [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. [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?