IAI Nesher FAA Dagger

I had intended to build the Mirage III at this point in my Falklands War scale modelling project but coming across the seemingly interchangeable name of Dagger used in write-ups of this time, I had to investigate further. The Dagger, I discovered, was actually the much more numerous (30:17) Israeli Nesher. The IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) Nesher was the IAF (Israeli Air Force) version of the French Dassault Mirage 5 multirole fighter. Build from plans acquired from Dassault, before a French arms embargo severed the partnership with IAI to design the Mirage 5, it was fitted with Israeli avionics, a Martin-Baker ejection seat and the Israeli Shafrir heat-seeking missile. Between 1978 and 1980, following the retirement of the Nesher from IAF service, 39 remaining Israeli aircraft were refurbished and exported to the FAA (Argentine Air Force) who then operated it under the new name, Dagger. 

PM Model IAI Nesher in the colours of FAA Dagger based at Rio Grande, June 1982

During the 1982 Falklands War, supported on the ground by IAI technicians, Daggers were deployed to the southern naval airbase of Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, and an airfield in Puerto San Julián. Despite the lack of an aerial refuelling capability and the considerable distance to their targets, which gave them only 5 minutes combat time over the Falklands, the Dagger conducted 153 sorties against both ground and naval targets over the 45 days of combat operations. The primary role of the Dagger and Mirage III was to protect the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk strike force from the patrolling SHAR (British Sea Harriers). This was achieved by deploying at high altitude, drawing the SHAR away from the strike force and then, using their superior speed, out run the pursuers to return to the safety of their base on the Argentine mainland.

Dagger C-432 stationed at San Julián, now on display at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica, Argentina

Armed with 2 French 30mm DEFA cannon and British built 500 and 1000 lb bombs, the Dagger was also free, in the absence of any covering SHAR, to engage the British Task Force. Between 1st and 21st May, HMS Arrow, Antrim, Brilliant and Broadsword were all attacked and damaged with cannon fire. On 21 May and 8th June two British ships, HMS Ardent and then HMS Plymouth, received direct hits with bombs, and although damage was sustained, outright destruction was avoided as the bombs failed to explode. This was due to them being dropped too low for their arming mechanisms to have sufficient time in the air to trigger. 

This was not, however, totally risk free for the Daggers. During the 45 days of combat operations and 153 sorties, eleven, a third of the Dagger complement, were to be lost in combat; nine to the SHAR AIM-9L Sidewinder, one to HMS Broadsword's Sea Wolf missile and the other to a Rapier surface to air missile over San Carlos Water. 

PM Model's 1:72 Scale Model Kit of the IAI Nesher in the colours of the FAA Dagger 

My IAI Nesher 1:72 scale model kit, from the lesser known Turkish company PM Model, was probably one of the simplest and least detailed builds I've encountered. Rather than completing it in the IAF colours provided, I used a set of Xtradecal Falklands War decals for the Argentine FAA Dagger C-401 as flown by Lt Jorge Ratti. Using my new found Blu Tack skills in applying camouflage, I had a couple of attempts in producing the various shades of green and brown as used at this time, trying also not to over paint the unusual yellow markings on wing and tail.

Capt Carlos ‘Castor’ Rohde in C-415

The combat 'highlight' for FAA Dagger C-401, was the part it played in the last major air battle of the conflict: the attack on the Royal Navy's Rothesay-class frigate HMS Plymouth, in Falkland Sound and the strike by A4 Skyhawks on the landing ships at Fitzroy Cove, during 8 June 1982. HMS Plymouth had not been the intended target, the original mission being a combined Dagger/ Skyhawk strike to neutralise the British amphibious landings on East Falkland. 

Five Grupo 6 Daggers, lead by Capt Carlos ‘Castor’ Rohde (C-415) with his wingmen, Lt José Gabari Zocco (C-417) and Lt Jorge Ratti (C-401), and Capt Amílcar ‘Mastin’ Cimatti (C-435) and Maj Carlos ‘Napo’ Martínez (C-418) tucked in behind, flew in a five pointed star formation up the western edge of Falkland Sound, in support of 5 Skyhawks. Their target were the LSLs (Landing Ship Logistics) offloading troops and supplies in Fitzroy Cove. 

FAA Dagger C-401 flown by Lt Jorge Ratti against HMS Plymouth

Out of his canopy to the left, Rohde spotted HMS Plymouth alone and exposed in the middle of the waterway. Leaving the LSLs to the Skyhawks, Rohde turned his 5 aircraft formation towards HMS Plymouth and, spreading out to attack in line-astern, the first three Daggers dived in to attack at wave-top height, with the second pair close behind. 

 HMS Plymouth and HMS Avenger in San Carlos Water

Responding to anti-aircraft fire from HMS Plymouth the Daggers opened up with their 30mm cannon as they commenced their bombing run. Releasing their ordinance as they flew fast and low, HMS Plymouth was hit, but there was no explosion. Holed in the hull and smokestack, a helicopter depth-charge was detonated causing fire. Internal flooding from the breaches made by the unexploded bombs forced a six-degree list to the ship as it manoeuvred in search of safety in to San Carlos Water. HMS Avenger, a Type 21 frigate, quickly came to its aid and assisted in extinguishing the fire. 

In response to HMS Plymouth’s initial air raid warning, HMS Exeter vectored 801 NAS’s SHAR cover over the LSLs in Fitzroy towards San Carlos Strait. While the SHARs were in a futile hot pursuit of the five fleeing Daggers, the Skyhawks launched their attack on the two now undefended LSLs, Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram, in Fitzroy Cove. Sir Galahad was hit by two or three bombs and set alight. Sir Tristram was hit by a 500 lb bomb which penetrated the deck, but failed to explode immediately. The crew were able to be evacuated before the bomb later exploded and Sir Tristram was left abandoned.

HMS Plymouth, meanwhile, was patched up and returned to shore bombardment duties on 14 June, in time to see the Argentine forces in the Falklands finally surrender.

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The model 

Brand:       PM Model
Title:          IAI Nesher
Number:    PM-222
Scale:        1:72
Released:  2019 | Rebox (Changed decals)