rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

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. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. 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. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. [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. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. [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. [19][20] In April 1979, 60,000 members of the military and police were on active duty to protect that month's Rhodesian general election. 2023 Springfield Armory. [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. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. All Rights Reserved. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. [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. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. All Rights Reserved. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. 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. [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". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Today, with the proliferation of zombies in our culture, it could be called the zombie drill or zombie check, because a head shot is the only way to kill a zombie. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. 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. slams Colorado gun control bills, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, Russell Brand was challenged to give examples of MSNBC pushing misinformation (that was a BAD idea), Trump Reveals What He'll Do If He's Indicted, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. They could also be wearing body armor. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. |-- The DU Lounge However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. 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. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. This article is featured in As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Oops, there's been an error. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. aka Failure Drill. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and, Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous, . The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! [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. Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. 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. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. 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. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. [58], Foreign volunteers who were accepted were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Rhodesia, and the Rhodesian government considered them to be members of the security forces rather than mercenaries. 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 articles in Soldier of Fortune reflected Rhodesian government propaganda, as they claimed that the country was a western democracy, the war was being fought against communism and did not discuss the oppression of Rhodesia's black majority. [74], The Canadian spree killer Mathew Lamb was able to join the Rhodesian Army in 1974 after being released from a mental institution. However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. 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. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . Transitioning between targets can take some getting used to, especially for shooters still trying to get some experience under their belts. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. History. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. 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. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. These volunteers felt that Ian Smith had betrayed white Rhodesians by signing this agreement. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. [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. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. 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". 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. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. 2003) (Kozinski, J. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. |-- Editorials & Other Articles Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. [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. 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. You can support the efforts of Jews Can Shoot that Nothing Says Never Again Like an Armed Jew. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. "The Mozambique Drill: A History and How To", "Lesson Plan: Immediate Target Engagement (CMC-22 Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course 08/12/2008)", "History of the Failure Drill: Mozambique Revolt Roots", "Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mozambique_Drill&oldid=1141379493, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 19:40. [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. If I were to guess, I would say Rousseaus ammo was a 115-grain with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. 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. However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Id argue that if the two shots at (and hopefully in) the chest of an aggressor fails to convince him to break off his attack, then youd be better to drop your aim to fire the third shot (and perhaps fourth and fifth shots) at the pelvis next. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. 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. It kind of worked. [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. He was fighting in the. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. There is evidence that the Departments of Justice and State tacitly encouraged Americans to volunteer for Rhodesia as part of efforts to prevent the country collapsing before a negotiated solution to the war could be finalised. [42] Small numbers of black ex-Flechas from Mozambique were also accepted after the end of Portuguese rule in that country; they were paid less than white soldiers. [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. Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him. If a few hundred Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. All rights reserved. This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. |-- Archives [34], American and Australian volunteers who had fought in the Vietnam War were generally well regarded by Rhodesian soldiers, and were often posted to the elite SAS and Selous Scouts. Live The Armory Life. [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. 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. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. Click 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. 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. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. [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 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 Mozambique Drill[1] 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. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. One of the earliest versions of this three-shot drill required law enforcement officers to fire two shots at center mass, then lower their weapon to the ready position while assessing the need for the third head shot. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. 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. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord.