Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. [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. 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. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. [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. 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. However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [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. A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. 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". |-- DU Groups Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. 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 opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. All rights reserved. [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. [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. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! [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. 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. They could also be wearing body armor. dissenting.). At the time of UDI, the Rhodesian Army had a strength of over 18,400, including 15,000 reservists, the Rhodesian Air Force had a small but modern fleet of combat aircraft and the paramilitary British South Africa Police included 7,000 full time and 25,000 reserve personnel. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. 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. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. [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. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. |-- Ask the Administrators Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. Anything less than three seconds is very good. [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. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! Thank you for your support. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. The Rhodesian government actively recruited white personnel from other countries from the mid-1970s to address manpower shortages in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. [30] As a result, White has observed that the volunteers were typically more willing to fight and even die for the ideology of the Rhodesian Front party than for Rhodesia itself. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. All Rights Reserved. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. 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. The volunteers had a range of motivations. 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. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [2][3] Accordingly, the government issued Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom in November 1965, with the colony becoming Rhodesia. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. [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. All Rights Reserved. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a The. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. Live The Armory Life. However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. 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. If the target continues to advance despite two well-placed shots to the torso, the shooter follows up with a more precisely aimed (and more difficult to accomplish) head shot. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 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. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. 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. After a quick assessment of the situation, Rousseau tried for a shot to the mans central nervous system. 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. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? 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. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? 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. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. 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. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. 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. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. The Australian parliament passed legislation banning Australians from serving with Rhodesia in 1978. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. 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. | Discussion 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. |-- Political Videos | Donate, AboutDU The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. They also feared for their lives due to a perception that a black majority government would place them on trial for murder and other crimes. 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. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). 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. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 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. |-- Places Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. During fighting at the. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. [60] The volunteers also received the same pay as white Rhodesians,[43] between $US 4,000 and $US 7,000 annually. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. : 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. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. [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)). This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Heres the connection. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. 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. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. Most police officers cannot do it in less than five seconds without a miss. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. 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. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. [92] Many of the Americans wrongly believed that their government opposed their presence in Rhodesia, with articles in Soldier of Fortune and works by the author Robin Moore also claiming this. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. 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. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. The academics Jacob Ware and John Campbell stated in 2022 that people from more than fifteen countries had volunteered to fight for Rhodesia, including "several hundred" Americans. If a few hundred Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful of weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars." Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. 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". Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. 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 led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. 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 . [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.
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