Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: "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. LLC. 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. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . 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. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. : 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. [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. here to send us a message. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. 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. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. At least thats what Ive been told. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. 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. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. 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. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). [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. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. 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. [23] In 1979, the military historian John Keegan noted that foreigners made up between a quarter and a third of the strength of the RLI. [74], The Canadian spree killer Mathew Lamb was able to join the Rhodesian Army in 1974 after being released from a mental institution. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. [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. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. dissenting.). Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. This proved impossible due to the large numbers and difficulty of checking their backgrounds. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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 . FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. 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. 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. That was in the 1400s and 1500s when Portugal set up trading settlements that evolved into colonies. |-- Latest Breaking News The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. [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. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. [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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. 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. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. |-- Archives Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. A proposal by the mercenary Mike Hoare to establish an international brigade modelled on the French Foreign Legion was also rejected. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. 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. 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. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Handgun Training for Personal Protection. [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. |-- General Discussion Got a message for Democratic Underground? Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Transitioning between targets can take some getting used to, especially for shooters still trying to get some experience under their belts. 2003) (Kozinski, J. [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. If I were to guess, I would say Rousseaus ammo was a 115-grain with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. All Rights Reserved. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! 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. Its much harder than you may think. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion 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 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. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. 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". Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the |-- General Discussion: Presidency The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Learn how your comment data is processed. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. This drill was popularised by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence, who was the inspiration for the character of Kuben Blisk. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. Rousseau relayed this story to Jeff Cooper, who then began employing this failure to stop drill in his teaching at Gunsite. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. 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. |-- Topic Forums This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. [23] Other volunteers were posted to a range of units, including protection companies mainly made up of black soldiers and the largely white Grey's Scouts and Rhodesian Armoured Corps. How rude! The Portuguese government banned Rhodesian recruitment in the late 1970s, but was unable to enforce the legislation. [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. Most police officers cannot do it in less than five seconds without a miss. [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. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. [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. 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. [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. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. At the start signal, draw your weapon and fire two shots to the chest (V1 zone), followed by one shot to the head (V2 zone). While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). aka Failure Drill. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. 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. In the chaotic maelstrom that swallowed up untold treasure and an entire generation of people, soldiers of fortune found employment opportunities on a previously unprecedented scale. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. 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. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. 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. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . 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." [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. The historian Luise White noted in 2004 that "the figure most sources cite is 1,500 foreign soldiers, of whom perhaps 400 were American", though the Rhodesian Army put the number at 1,000 including 100 Americans. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. Due to factors such as body armor, the bolstering effect of drugs, or failure to hit vital organs, the body shots may not be immediately effective, necessitating the third shot. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. 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 (~7.5 . He was fighting in the. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. [101] Robin Moore included profiles of twelve volunteers as part of a non-fiction book he wrote in 1976 that argued that the Rhodesian government was not racist and sanctions against it should be lifted. The. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . |-- Places [63], After completing training, many of the volunteers were assigned to the all-white Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) and particularly its 3 Commando sub-unit. 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. [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. [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. 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". He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. 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. 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. Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. 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. (snip) 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 . [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. 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 JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. Save my name and email to use for future comments. 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 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. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. 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". [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. In 1980, two Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers, Larry Mudgett and John Helms, attended pistol training at Gunsite and received permission from Cooper to teach the technique to the LAPD, and to rename it the Failure Drill (concerned that "Mozambique" might have racist overtones). 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. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [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. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. Rousseau hit an . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. At the start signal, draw from concealment and fire two shots into the V1 zone and one shot into the V2 zone as fast as you can do so without missing either zone. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. 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. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. [7] Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [37] Some of the Americans volunteered to work as security guards on farms in Rhodesia as this offered the opportunity to fight communists while receiving higher pay than that offered by the security forces. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. So why not just send the first shot to the head? If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. In a veritable ocean of blood, one otherwise trivial engagement gained lasting notoriety. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Soldier of Fortune ran large numbers of articles on foreigners in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War; each edition published between 1975 and 1980 included at least one article on the subject. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. 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. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. During fighting at the. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania.