rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. |-- Political Videos [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. 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. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. 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. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. [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. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. The Mozambique Drill, which is also known as the Failure Drill, Failure to Stop drill, the "Djibouti Shooty", or, informally, "two to the chest, one to the head," is a close-quarters shooting technique that supposedly originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, in the Mozambican War of Independence, hence the name. 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. 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'. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. : The British Military Advisory and Training Team and the Creation of the Zimbabwe National Army", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foreign_volunteers_in_the_Rhodesian_Security_Forces&oldid=1135864497, The historians Peter Godwin and Ian Hancock have written that foreign volunteers represented only a "tiny minority" of the Rhodesian military in 1972, with 90 per cent of recruits being Rhodesians and most of the remainder. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. [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". opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent LLC. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill., Practical Variations to the Mozambique Drill, El Presidente Drill Assessing Your Shooting Skills, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. 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 DU Lounge While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. [86] Due to the difficulty of drafting legislation that could effectively ban Britons from serving with Rhodesia or enforcing the measures that were brought in, there is no record of any British citizens being punished for serving with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the war. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. There arent a lot of guarantees in a gunfight, but the Failure Drill just might be your best defense in time of need, particularly if you are facing an opponent wearing body armor. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: [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. 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. Position a silhouette target (preferably with outlined V1 and V2 zones) five yards from the firing line. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. 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. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. 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. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. 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. [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)). [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. That was in the 1400s and 1500s when Portugal set up trading settlements that evolved into colonies. The ZAPU argued that the failure of the British and US governments to stop the flow of volunteers was a barrier to reaching a negotiated settlement with the Rhodesian government, and demanded in 1977 that this be halted. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. 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 and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. Heres the connection. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). How rude! This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with 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. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. 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. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. So why not just send the first shot to the head? [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. [40], Foreign volunteers for the Rhodesian Security Forces were generally motivated by personal political and ideological beliefs or a desire for adventure. [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. 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. 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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. [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. |-- Archives The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. |-- Editorials & Other Articles FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. It is commonly known as a" Mozambique Drill" because it comes from a story told to Cooper from Rhodesian Mike Rousseau, a mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence. 2023 Springfield Armory. 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. 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. [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. "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. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. 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. [22] The number of white conscripts in the security forces was also increased by considerably expanding the age groups of men who were required to serve and the periods of active duty reservists needed to undertake. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. 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 . | Discussion Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [7] The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. Anything less than three seconds is very good. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. 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". European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [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.