rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. Many could well have been avoided or mitigated, had the perpetrators known their intended victims were equipped with a rifle and twenty bullets apiece, as the Militia Act required here. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. |-- General Discussion: Presidency The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. [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. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. Rumored to have begun with Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau and adopted into coursework at Gunsight Academy, the Mozambique Drill is intended to drop an advancing threat immediately. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. Towsley on Tactical blog Archives - Bryce Towsley The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. No use without the express written permission of Doris Wise Montrose is permitted. All rights reserved. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. In 1977 the pretender to the Albanian throne, Leka I, asked the Rhodesian government to train a battalion of Albanians that he hoped to recruit. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. 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. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. 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. [22] The number of white conscripts in the security forces was also increased by considerably expanding the age groups of men who were required to serve and the periods of active duty reservists needed to undertake. Heres the connection. [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. "Mozambique Drill" as the defensive tactic to counter a threat Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. 2023 Springfield Armory. 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. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. 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. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. 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. 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. [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). 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. Due to the sanctions against Rhodesia, these ads were generally lodged via front organisations and were vague about the country the volunteers would serve in. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. It kind of worked. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. 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. Mozambique Drill - Wikipedia Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. All Rights Reserved. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. [51] As a result, there are a range of estimates of the numbers of foreigners who travelled to Rhodesia to serve with the security forces: British citizens made up the majority of the foreign volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. Mozambique Drill - Bryce Towsley 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 . Two American ex-Marine deserters from the Forces who robbed jewelry stores in Salisbury, while carrying stolen Uzis, were involved in a shoot-out with authorities at the South African border. 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. That was in the 1400s and 1500s when Portugal set up trading settlements that evolved into colonies. These The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. LLC. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Throwback Thursday The Mozambique Drill - The Mag Life 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. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. This article is featured in Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Rousseau hit an . The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. 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. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [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. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. 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. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. 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. [67] Many of the volunteers were frustrated that they were paid only in Rhodesian dollars, as foreign banks would not process this currency and the Rhodesian government allowed no more than R$1,500 to be converted to other currencies. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. In a veritable ocean of blood, one otherwise trivial engagement gained lasting notoriety. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. [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. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. [106], Foreign volunteers in the Rhodesian Security Forces, Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election, "Foreign Fighter Problem: What the War in Rhodesia Means for Ukraine", "Fine-mannered, articulate and urbane: the mercenary as deadly romantic", "Security Council resolution 460 (1979) [Southern Rhodesia]", "Rhodesia: Oral Answers to Questions Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16th January 1980", "Many Rhodesian Whites Threaten to Quit Jobs", "Rhodesia's Approach to Counterinsurgency: A Preference for Killing", "Mercenary Activity: United States Neutrality Laws and Enforcement", "The White House and White Africa: Presidential Policy on Rhodesia 1965-79", "The 'New Model' Armies of Africa? Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. 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. 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. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. [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. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [4][12] The resistance to the Rhodesian regime was dominated by two black nationalist movements, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). With small arms, mortars, and artillery of predominantly Russian and Chinese origin, guerrilla fighters in places like the Congo and Mozambique engaged in pitiless unconventional warfare that saw widespread atrocities. At least thats what Ive been told. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. It is commonly known as a" Mozambique Drill" because it comes from a story told to Cooper from Rhodesian Mike Rousseau, a mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. : 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. [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". Anything less than three seconds is very good. Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition.

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rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau