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. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. Got a message for Democratic Underground? 2023 Springfield Armory. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). 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. The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. 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. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. 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. [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. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. Rousseau relayed this story to Jeff Cooper, who then began employing this failure to stop drill in his teaching at Gunsite. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. 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. 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. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! 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. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [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. |-- Editorials & Other Articles Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. [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. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. [70], Ware and Campbell wrote in 2022 that the foreign volunteers had little influence on the war, and the pressure from western governments on the Rhodesian government to agree to a transition to majority rule was of greater importance. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [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. In 1976 former Portuguese officials offered 2,000 white soldiers who had served with the UNITA nationalist movement in Angola until that country's independence. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. [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. [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. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. here to send us a message. 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. Live The Armory Life. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and, Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous, . This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. All Rights Reserved. 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. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. Mike Rousseau, a Rhodesian mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence, was armed only with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, and he rounded a corner at Loureno Marques (now Maputo) Airport and came face-to-face with an African guerilla armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, less than 25 feet away. [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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. 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. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. [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? Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. [8] The academic Michael Evans has written that "the Fronts world-struggle ideology was based on a conspiratorial interpretation of modern politics that emphasised virulent forms of Anglophobia, anti-communism, anti-internationalism, and anti-liberalism". Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. dissenting.). Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. 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. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. This article is featured in 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. 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. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. 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. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. 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. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. [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. [14] Rhodesia's security situation deteriorated during the mid-1970s when the nationalists were able to establish bases in Mozambique as Portuguese rule faltered and finally ended in 1975. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. This is a drill created during the Mozambique War of Independence, when a Rhodesian Mercenary (Mike Rousseau) had an up-close encounter with an opponent wielding an AK-47. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. [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. 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). You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. 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 late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. [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. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . My Forums, Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . The volunteers frequently received a hostile response from Rhodesians in the units they were posted to, and many ended their contracts early as a result. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. 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. [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. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. The volunteers had a range of motivations. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. [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. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). No use without the express written permission of Doris Wise Montrose is permitted. [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. page. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. [43] The academic Luise White has written that they were commonly opposed to the establishment of governments run by black people and did not have any particular commitment to Rhodesia itself. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the [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. [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. The Portuguese government banned Rhodesian recruitment in the late 1970s, but was unable to enforce the legislation. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. [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. [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. |-- General Discussion [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. The British military did not take up a suggestion by the FCO that it warn servicemen against enlisting with the Rhodesian Security Forces on the grounds that serving as a mercenary was not actually illegal. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. One of the earliest versions of this three-shot drill required law enforcement officers to fire two shots at center mass, then lower their weapon to the ready position while assessing the need for the third head shot. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Learn how your comment data is processed. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. 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. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. So why not just send the first shot to the head? [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him.
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