RTAF Mirage IIIB2T Coral Snake

[comrade harps]

Dassault Canada Mirage IIIB2T
a/c 224, Detachment D, 512 Squadron, Watthana Nakhon Air Base, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) July 1972



Thailand was an early adopter of the Dassault Canada Mirage III. 36 Mirage IIICT fighters and 4 Mirage IIIBT unarmed trainers were delivered in 1964-65. They remained in service until replaced by F-16A/Bs in the early 1980s.



A further 3 Mirage IIIB2T two-seaters, codenamed Coral Snake, were delivered from 1971 to 1972. All were former RCAF test aircraft and upgraded by Kelowna Flightcraft. Each had unique modifications, but were standardised to a common avionic standard. They all had LORAN C navigation and the Loral RAPPORT I ECM system. All were integrated with the TV and ARM versions of the Martel missile and had the canopy mountings for the Martin Marietta AN/AVQ-9 Pave Light "Zot Box" laser designator. The AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife targeting pod was integrated in early 1972. An enlarged ventral fairing containing chaff/flare dispensers and extra fuel was installed on the second and third B2Ts delivered and retrofitted to the first. All were powered by Orenda Atar 9B engines.




The third B2T retained two of its unique test fits: a retractable and extendable in-flight refueling probe (as tested for the Tornado IDS) and a variable height nose gear (as tested for the proposed Mirage IIIN naval version). The front gear's kneeling mode made airframe access easier for RTAF ground crew, who were on average shorter than their Canadian counterparts.



All the IIIB2T Coral Snakes were flown by Detachment D, 512 Squadron, based at Watthana Nakhon Air Base. This Squadron's other aircraft at the time included Mirage IIICRTs (Mirage IIICTs converted with a reconnaissance nose), Mirage IIICR2Ts (Mirage IIICTs modified with a LOROP camera nose) and RB-57E Patricia Lynn Canberras. A highly secretive unit, the Coral Snakes weren't publicly recognised by the RTAF until their retirement in 1982.



The photographs this model is based on show that RTAF fin flash is absent. As with other RTAF combat aircraft at the time, the fin flash was omitted from their markings because they were available to fly secret missions over neutral Cambodia. In 1962 the Thai king had reassured Cambodia's Prince Norodom Sihanouk that the Thai flag would not fly over Cambodian territory; and the fin flash was a representation of the Thai flag.



The RTAF's first LGB combat missions were flown over the Mao Tse Tung Trail in Burma during mid-1971. These Zot Box combat tests proved successful and served as test runs for secret LGB missions against the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and Cambodia later in the year. At first poorly defended targets were hit, but the Pave Knife proved its worth during 1972's Operation Half Back Flanker, when the Coral Snakes operated in areas heavily defended by SAMs and radar-directed flak.



The lllB2Ts worked closely with the RTAF's Mirage IIIET fighters-bombers of 210, 211 and 212 squadrons throughout Operation Half Back Flanker in 1972.* The Coral Snakes provided the Mirage IIIET Force with laser targeting, SEAD suppression with their Martel ARMs and night/adverse weather bomber leadship services via their LORAN C navigation. On dedicated SEAD missions with the Martel ARM or precision attacks with TV Martel, IIIETs provided fighter escort. The Coral Snakes flew against targets in Burma, Loas, Cambodia and Vietnam (North and South) during Half Back Flanker. The second Coral Snake delivered was destroyed in a mid-air collision with a Mirage IIIET over Laos on 3 September 1972 (both aircrew POW).



The remaining IIB2Ts stayed in service until retired in 1982. By then the Zot Box and Pave Knife had been replaced by the day/night capable AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack. Their final campaign was over Cambodia, marking targets for aircraft combating Vietnamese occupiers and their Cambodian allies.



*56 IIIETs were acquired with 6 Mirage IIIRT photo-reconnaissance planes and 6 unarmed Mirage IIIDT trainers from Australia in 1967-71. These replaced F-100Ds and CA-27 Sabre Mk.32s.

[NARSES2]

That looks good, great camouflage 

[chrisonord]

Very nice   
What kit is that?

[comrade harps]

Very nice   
What kit is that?

Modelsvit 1/72 Mirage IIIB. The enlarged ventral fairing was originally from the High Planes Models Cheetah.

[Dizzyfugu]

The Tonka refueling probe is a nice detail, works well. 

[chrisonord]

Very nice   
What kit is that?

Modelsvit 1/72 Mirage IIIB. The enlarged ventral fairing was originally from the High Planes Models Cheetah.

Cheers,
I have just got 2 modelsvit mirages too, they look nice in the box, is there any problems with building them? Thanks for pointing out the IFR probe Thomas, I was wondering what it was from, and it looks right. Cheers.

[Old Wombat]

Quite pretty ... for a Mirage!  

[The Rat]

Beautiful!   

[comrade harps]

Very nice   
What kit is that?

Modelsvit 1/72 Mirage IIIB. The enlarged ventral fairing was originally from the High Planes Models Cheetah.

Cheers,
I have just got 2 modelsvit mirages too, they look nice in the box, is there any problems with building them? Thanks for pointing out the IFR probe Thomas, I was wondering what it was from, and it looks right. Cheers.

Be careful with the intakes. Dry fit first, because they are tricky to get right. I spent a long time stuffing around with those before l figured it out. Other than that, they're pretty good.

[chrisonord]

Very nice   
What kit is that?

Modelsvit 1/72 Mirage IIIB. The enlarged ventral fairing was originally from the High Planes Models Cheetah.

Cheers,
I have just got 2 modelsvit mirages too, they look nice in the box, is there any problems with building them? Thanks for pointing out the IFR probe Thomas, I was wondering what it was from, and it looks right. Cheers.

Be careful with the intakes. Dry fit first, because they are tricky to get right. I spent a long time stuffing around with those before l figured it out. Other than that, they're pretty good.

Thankyou, much appreciated.

[zenrat]

Good work comrade.

[Weaver]

That looks good - nice one.

[rickshaw]

Interesting.   

[Wardukw]

 I like it 👌     

[HarryPhishnuts]

Great Build and great story.