rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

The Rhodesian military also adopted some of the terminology used by Americans in Vietnam, such as referring to guerrillas as 'gooks' and labelling one of their supply lines the 'Ho Chi Minh trail'. Towsley on Tactical blog Archives - Bryce Towsley [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. 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. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. |-- Archives These Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. [36][74] These volunteers may have further encouraged the Rhodesian Security Forces use of the 'body count' of guerrillas killed as a measure of success, with this having been a key metric in Vietnam. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. [86] Due to the difficulty of drafting legislation that could effectively ban Britons from serving with Rhodesia or enforcing the measures that were brought in, there is no record of any British citizens being punished for serving with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the war. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. Carry Calibers: .40 S&W Vs. .45 ACP Vs. 9mm - Gun Digest This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. 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. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. 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. [22] The army units manned by full time personnel, which included a high proportion of white regular and conscripted soldiers, were the most powerful element of the security forces and formed a strategic reserve that responded to the guerrilla activities. 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. [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. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. He also noted that the party drew on the ideas and language used by the contemporary radical right movement in the United States to justify UDI. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. [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. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. 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. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. |-- General Discussion: Presidency As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Save my name and email to use for future comments. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. Another LEO involved shooting. Suspect deceased. Any answers? - Topic These volunteers felt that Ian Smith had betrayed white Rhodesians by signing this agreement. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. [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". So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? Thank you for your support. Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot] is conducting firearms training Freedom is not defended with empty idealism easily perverted into appeasement of evil, but with the force of arms.. 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. 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. 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. 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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. Rhodesian Commando - StrategyPage The volunteers had a range of motivations. Heres the connection. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. |-- Topic Forums The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. 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. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. [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. Forums | Journals| Store 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. [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. Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [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. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. [66], Under the terms of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement that ended the war the British government resumed control over Rhodesia in December 1979, with the country temporarily reverting to the colony of Southern Rhodesia until elections could be held. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. 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. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". 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. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill - Gun Digest [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. 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. 2023 Springfield Armory. [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. Successful applicants were then offered a rank in the security forces. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. It kind of worked. 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 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. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . 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. 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." [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. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. [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. You have entered an incorrect email address! [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. Mozambique Drill - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core [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. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. [36] In 1976 some current and former British soldiers were sent unsolicited leaflets that encouraged them to enlist in the Rhodesian Army and explained its conditions of service. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. Two to the body, one to the head. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. [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? [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. 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. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. Bryce Towsley - The Mozambique drill was made famous by | Facebook http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. You sweat just standing still. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. [96][97] In January 1980 the British Lord Privy Seal, Ian Gilmour, stated that the British government had committed during the negotiations that led to the Lancaster House Agreement to not remove foreigners from the Rhodesian military prior to the election. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! Facebook Mozambique Drill | Military Wiki | Fandom I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. 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". [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. Type of Sear & Hammer Engagement has Little Effect [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. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. Failure Drill: A Proven Strategy to Stop an Attacker [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. [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)). [46], In addition to the actual volunteers, thousands of South African Police and South African Defence Force (SADF) personnel were deployed to Rhodesia by the South African government to serve in or alongside the Rhodesian Security Forces.

How Many Blueberries Can A Toddler Eat, Viasat Modem Flashing White, Articles R