rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

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. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. 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. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. My Forums, Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. Rousseau relayed this story to Jeff Cooper, who then began employing this failure to stop drill in his teaching at Gunsite. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Rounding a corner Rousseau found himself unexpectedly face to face with a FRELIMO guerilla armed with an AK47 at a range of about ten paces. |-- Places As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. 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. Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. These [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. 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. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. 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. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . The. LLC. [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. 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. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [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. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). dissenting.). Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. 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. |-- General Discussion Its much harder than you may think. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. 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. 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. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. He is a contributing editor to numerous gun-enthusiast magazines and websites, including Combat Handguns, Black Guns, Gun Tests, Gun Digest, Gun World, Ballistic, range365.com, SHOT Business, and others. 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. [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. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. 50 Rounds of 185gr JHP .45 ACP Ammo by Federal - AmmoForSale.com [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". ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Damn the Terrs: American warriors fighting for Rhodesia [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. [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. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. Bryce Towsley - The Mozambique drill was made famous by | Facebook [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill - Gun Digest The most common motivation was opposition to governments led by black people, but other volunteers were motivated by anti-communism or a desire for adventure. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Blisk - Official Titanfall 2 Wiki [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. [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. [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. Kuben Blisk | Titanfall Wiki | Fandom A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. 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. 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. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . 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. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. 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. Failure Drill: A Proven Strategy to Stop an Attacker |-- General Discussion: Presidency The volunteers had a range of motivations. Mozambique Drill - How It Works & Why To Use It - The Lodge at AmmoToGo.com Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. 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. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. 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. The Mozambique Drill is a close-quarter shooting technique in which the shooter fires twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap to the center of mass), momentarily assesses the hits, then follows them up with a carefully aimed shot to the head of the target. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. |-- Ask the Administrators This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. 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. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. Got a message for Democratic Underground? The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog [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). Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. [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. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. How rude! Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the The young African not only failed to fall, but he advanced toward Rousseau with murderous intent. [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. 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. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. page. It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. They observed that the volunteers "failed in their efforts to protect the white regime, but not before they supported and contributed to a conflict that lasted fifteen years and claimed tens of thousands of lives". An accurate shot to the T-zone (the area between the eyebrows and upper lip, also called the ocular cavity) damages the brain and central nervous system and secures instant incapacitation of the target. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. "Mozambique Drill" as the defensive tactic to counter a threat He was fighting in the. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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. |-- Latest Breaking News He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. 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. In 2021 White wrote that the numbers of foreign volunteers may have been small, and the ex-Rhodesian generals she had interviewed "scoffed at me when I asked if there were fifteen hundred foreigners in the Rhodesian Army". Type of Sear & Hammer Engagement has Little Effect 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. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Jack Malloch - Wikipedia Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion |-- DU Groups He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. 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. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. 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. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [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)). It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. Foreign volunteers in the Rhodesian Security Forces - Wikipedia [6], The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. this do in honour of dead mercenaries - Democratic Underground Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. Rousseau hit an . Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. Tom Cruise was great in Collateral. He should play villain in more 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. Two to the body, one to the head. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. 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. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. [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. 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. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. Facebook