rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

[13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! Live The Armory Life. You can support the efforts of Jews Can Shoot that Nothing Says Never Again Like an Armed Jew. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. 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. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Multiple Gunshot Death - TV Tropes 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. page. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". [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. He was fighting in the. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. Got a message for Democratic Underground? 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'. [23], The expansion of the security forces, increasing battle casualties and a decline in the white population due to high rates of emigration led to serious shortages of white personnel that greatly hindered the Rhodesian war effort. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. 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. 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. During fighting at the. [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. Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. All rights reserved. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. All Rights Reserved. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [70], Ware and Campbell wrote in 2022 that the foreign volunteers had little influence on the war, and the pressure from western governments on the Rhodesian government to agree to a transition to majority rule was of greater importance. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. The Rhodesian government attempted several strategies to address these shortages. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. Damn the Terrs: American warriors fighting for Rhodesia [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. 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. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. [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). Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. You have entered an incorrect email address! Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. 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. 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. During fighting at the Loureno Marques airport (modern-day Maputo ), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, 10 paces away and armed with an AK-47. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. [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. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. [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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Simple drills | Officer While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. [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. [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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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]. History of the Failure Drill: - The Armory Life Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. Towsley on Tactical blog Archives - Bryce Towsley [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. 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 . Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. |-- Editorials & Other Articles Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. 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. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. 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. However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. This article is featured in FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. 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". [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. [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. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. 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. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. 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 . Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. 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. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, | Discussion [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. The Browning Hi Power: The Superlative WWII Combat Handgun That Played [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 Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Another LEO involved shooting. Suspect deceased. Any answers? - Topic Rousseau relayed this story to Jeff Cooper, who then began employing this failure to stop drill in his teaching at Gunsite. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. It is vital to mix up your training, firing different numbers of shots into your targets, at different locations, because you never know if your first shot or your fifteenth is going to be the one that stops the threat. How rude! 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". Failure Drill: A Proven Strategy to Stop an Attacker [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. 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. 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 reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. |-- Archives Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill - Gun Digest [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. 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. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. Judge turns down New Jerseys request for stay in NSSF lawsuit, MSU professor illustrates problem with gun control advocates, 71-year-old Philadelphia man shoots back at armed robbers, sends them fleeing, Texas congressman faces censure over gun control support, MO lawmaker believes he can get GOP support on gun control, Bump stocks back on store shelves in three states, Colorado Democrats introduce assault weapon ban, Bill reintroduced to abolish the Tiahrt Amendments, Nebraska Constitutional Carry bill overcomes filibuster threat, appears poised for passage, Former D.A. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. [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. [22][24], Another strategy used to address white manpower shortages was seeking white volunteers from outside the country, which the Rhodesian government began doing in 1973. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog 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 volunteers were often labelled as mercenaries by opponents of the Rhodesian regime, though the Rhodesian government did not regard or pay them as such. 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. "Mozambique Drill" as the defensive tactic to counter a threat |-- Political Videos | Donate, AboutDU Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. 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.. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. 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. [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. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. [66], Under the terms of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement that ended the war the British government resumed control over Rhodesia in December 1979, with the country temporarily reverting to the colony of Southern Rhodesia until elections could be held. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the They could also be wearing body armor. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. [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". [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. Mozambique Drill - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core 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. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. 2003) (Kozinski, J. 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. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: [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 bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. Blisk - Official Titanfall 2 Wiki [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract.

What Is Casey's Dogs Name On Yellowstone, 2008 West Virginia Football Roster, Is William Zabka Tyler Zeds Father, Shooting In Bryan, Texas Today, Articles R