[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. 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. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. 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 . Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. [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. 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. Blisk - Official Titanfall 2 Wiki All too many of the other great tragedies of history - Stalin's atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a few - were perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. |-- The DU Lounge [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. 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. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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 . I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. By the early 20th century, the scramble to colonize Africa was on. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. |-- Ask the Administrators Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. These While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. You sweat just standing still. One would figure two slugs to the chest would drop the enemy fighter, but no. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. 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. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. [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. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. 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. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". Id argue that if the two shots at (and hopefully in) the chest of an aggressor fails to convince him to break off his attack, then youd be better to drop your aim to fire the third shot (and perhaps fourth and fifth shots) at the pelvis next. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. [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. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. [82] British citizens were prohibited from joining the Rhodesian Security Forces under the terms of an embargo enacted in 1968, with those who did so potentially facing fines or imprisonment. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. Mozambique Drill - Bryce Towsley and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the 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. here to send us a message. 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". It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. 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. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. 50 Rounds of 185gr JHP .45 ACP Ammo by Federal - AmmoForSale.com [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Throwback Thursday The Mozambique Drill - The Mag Life [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. [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. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. |-- Editorials & Other Articles [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. ATLAS 8 DRY-FIRE TRAINING SYSTEM Spotter Up Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Towsley on Tactical blog Archives - Bryce Towsley Rousseau hit an . Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. So why not just send the first shot to the head? However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. 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." European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. The so-called Mozambique Drill (two shots to the chest, one to the head) was actually developed by accident by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the War of Independence in Mozambique when two pistol shots to the torso failed to bring down an enemy guerrilla. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. Taken aback by the failure of his double tap to stop the threat, Rousseau took a moment, leveled his pistol at the charging mans face, and fired a third round. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. By September 1964, things began to change. [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). Important Notices: By participating on this discussion Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. There arent a lot of guarantees in a gunfight, but the Failure Drill just might be your best defense in time of need, particularly if you are facing an opponent wearing body armor. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. All rights reserved. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. [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. page. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. Forum Categories They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. The Mozambique Drill, which is also known as the Failure Drill, Failure to Stop drill, the "Djibouti Shooty", or, informally, "two to the chest, one to the head," is a close-quarters shooting technique that supposedly originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, in the Mozambican War of Independence, hence the name. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! The views Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? 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). The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. All other white military personnel, other than members of the Selous Scouts unit that had a reputation for atrocities, were given an assurance that they would not be required to leave the military. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. [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. [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. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Sundry populist uprisings supported by distant communist benefactors strived to nip at the forces and institutions of the European colonial powers long enough to draw blood. 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. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. Creator of the Mozambique Shooting Drill died in Zimbabwe How?? As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Failure Drill: A Proven Strategy to Stop an Attacker Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 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. 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. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). [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. This article is featured in board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight. [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. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. History. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. The Triple Tap Callsign can be unlocked by playing with the Mozambique, and Triple Tap XL can be unlocked via Advocate Gift. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. [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. He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. 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. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog 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. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the In a veritable ocean of blood, one otherwise trivial engagement gained lasting notoriety. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Editors Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. 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. While it might seem strange at first, its not a long stretch to connect the dots from a country off the east coast of Africa, to a Rhodesian mercenary, to a shooting technique, and finally to someone who conceal carries and trains to defend themselves. During fighting at the. 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. However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. Anything less than three seconds is very good. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. Then, they can make a smooth transition to the third V2 shot if it is necessary. History of the Failure Drill: - The Armory Life 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. Click [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. Mozambique Drill | Military Wiki | Fandom 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 the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. "Mozambique Drill" as the defensive tactic to counter a threat 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. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. 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. Big Forums The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. 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". [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. LLC. List of battleships of the United States Navy, List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces, http://practicalfirearmstraining.com/reading/HandgunDrillsPDF.pdf, Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, USMC manual CMC-37R of 8 Feb 2006: METHOD OF TARGET ENGAGEMENTS.