Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. Throwback Thursday The Mozambique Drill - The Mag Life The Guardian reported in 1979 that "his presence is a source of embarrassment to the regime which has always insisted that it does not want foreign mercenaries". Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. He finished the job with a headshot. Live The Armory Life. 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. By September 1964, things began to change. Foreign volunteers in the Rhodesian Security Forces - Wikipedia Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. |-- Topic Forums 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 . The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. [5], The Mozambique Drill is intended to ensure that the target is immediately stopped, by first placing two shots into the larger, easier-to-hit mass of the upper body, then, if the target is still active, following with a third, more precisely aimed and difficult head shot. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. All rights reserved. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. dissenting.). ATLAS 8 DRY-FIRE TRAINING SYSTEM Spotter Up The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. This article is featured in [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". Over the years, this drill has morphed into a variety of other drills and, if you put any two firearms instructors together, youll get a different opinion as to how its to be properly executed. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. 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. 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. A former police ofcer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected rearms authorities writing on the subject today. [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. 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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Save my name and email to use for future comments. All Rights Reserved. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. A British deserter from the Rhodesian military claimed in 1976 that 2,000 of the 6,000 regular soldiers in the Rhodesian Army were British and another 100 Americans. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. You sweat just standing still. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. Most police officers cannot do it in less than five seconds without a miss. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. The views Jeff Cooper created The Modern Technique of the Pistol and the Combat Mindset. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. Another LEO involved shooting. Suspect deceased. Any answers? - Topic Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. 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. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. 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. .22 LR Self-Defense Ammo Testing - Gunpowder Magazine [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. [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. 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. Rousseau related the story to an acquaintance, small arms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite Academy shooting school, who incorporated the "Mozambique Drill" into his modern technique shooting method. The Australian parliament passed legislation banning Australians from serving with Rhodesia in 1978. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. [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. [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. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. Kuben Blisk | Titanfall Wiki | Fandom Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. [77] Rhodesia attempted to counter the "mercenary" claim by processing the volunteers through the Department of Immigration and framing them as prospective Rhodesian citizens, though few ever applied for citizenship. [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. These [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. 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. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Damn the Terrs: American warriors fighting for Rhodesia Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. In a veritable ocean of blood, one otherwise trivial engagement gained lasting notoriety. 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. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. 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. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. [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. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. Click Rhodesian Commando - StrategyPage 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. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. 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. [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. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. 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]. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. 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". 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. 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. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? Bryce Towsley - The Mozambique drill was made famous by | Facebook Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. [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)). Ideally, a more practical application might be to fire two shots to the torso, take two steps back and to the side to keep your distance and, if your attacker is still attacking, attempt the head shot. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. 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. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. 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. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. Facebook Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. Creator of the Mozambique Shooting Drill died in Zimbabwe How?? Simple drills | Officer [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. [7] I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. Mozambique Drill | Gun Wiki | Fandom Carry Calibers: .40 S&W Vs. .45 ACP Vs. 9mm - Gun Digest [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. "Mozambique Drill" as the defensive tactic to counter a threat