the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. Home 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. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [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. [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. 2003) (Kozinski, J. [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. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. | Discussion 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. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. Big Forums 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. 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 . All Rights Reserved. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . 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. [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)). 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. [45] Some American volunteers were attracted by a belief that the war in Rhodesia was comparable to that which had been fought on the American frontier. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. |-- Archives It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. History. This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. It is vital to mix up your training, firing different numbers of shots into your targets, at different locations, because you never know if your first shot or your fifteenth is going to be the one that stops the threat. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. How rude! 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. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. He also edited Shooters Bible Guide to Firearms Assembly, Disassembly, and Cleaning; 50 Guns That Changed the World; and Gun Traders Guide. You sweat just standing still. here to send us a message. So why not just send the first shot to the head? If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 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. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. 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. 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, . He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. The Rhodesian government actively recruited white personnel from other countries from the mid-1970s to address manpower shortages in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. [94], Many of the foreign volunteers opposed the March 1978 Internal Settlement, under which the white Rhodesian government agreed to cede power to moderate black leaders. 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. Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. 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. Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. All Rights Reserved. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. Flat nose bullets and hollow points were not in widespread use, so those FMJs from Rousseaus HP35 must have passed right through the fighter. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics takes a look at the Mozambique Drill and puts his own spin on it, suggesting for arguments sake to try firing all three shots to the head instead of two to the chest and one to the head. 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. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. 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. 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". Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. 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. That was in the 1400s and 1500s when Portugal set up trading settlements that evolved into colonies. 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. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Rousseau hit an . It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. [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. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. Save my name and email to use for future comments. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. Position a silhouette target (preferably with outlined V1 and V2 zones) five yards from the firing line. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. |-- Places No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. 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. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. 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. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 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. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. 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. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. 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. [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. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . 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. 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 most common motivation was opposition to governments led by black people, but other volunteers were motivated by anti-communism or a desire for adventure. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. 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. | ContactUs | PrivacyPolicy. The Australian parliament passed legislation banning Australians from serving with Rhodesia in 1978. 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. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. 2023 Springfield Armory. [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. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. [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). Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot]. 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). [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. You have entered an incorrect email address! [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. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. 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". However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. Although in most situations, the two perfectly placed shots to the chest should disable an attacker, there are several reasons they could fail. The young African not only failed to fall, but he advanced toward Rousseau with murderous intent. These 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. 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. [74], The Canadian spree killer Mathew Lamb was able to join the Rhodesian Army in 1974 after being released from a mental institution. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. Most police officers cannot do it in less than five seconds without a miss. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. [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. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. [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". He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRAs American Rieman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digests Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". No use without the express written permission of Doris Wise Montrose is permitted. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the 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. 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. If you start slinging your lead outside of the V1 or V2 zones, slow it down. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). 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. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. [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. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. [80] Many Africans believed that the inaction of the western governments demonstrated their lack of commitment to combating white minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. 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. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! 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. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. [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. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. It kind of worked. They could also be wearing body armor. Semi-automatic pistols in those days relied on FMJ bullets so the pistol would function properly. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a 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. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. Forum Categories [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. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. 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. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. Forums | Journals| Store The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. The drill is also sometimes called the Failure Drill, as the third and final shot is made in response to a situation when the double tap fails to stop an advancing threat. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the 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. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. Click [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. 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. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. 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. [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. It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. [8] The historian Donal Lowry has endorsed Evans' views, noting also that "the Rhodesia Front sought to combine the notion that Rhodesia embodied the best of true Britishness, the notion that white Rhodesians were the sort of people who once made the Great" of Britain, while turning to America as the only remaining champion of the Free World. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. You can support the efforts of Jews Can Shoot that Nothing Says Never Again Like an Armed Jew. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. [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. 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. A proposal by the mercenary Mike Hoare to establish an international brigade modelled on the French Foreign Legion was also rejected. 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.