British Sea Harriers during Falklands war

[Raptor.777]

What model of AIM 9 Sidewinders would the British Sea Harrier carry during this conflict? I would think at D models but really have no clue

Thanks

Jeff

[GW8345]

AIM-9L's

 

(I've heard they got AIM-9M's also but haven't seen anything in writing confirming it)

 

GW

[Raptor.777]

26 minutes ago, GW8345 said:

AIM-9L's

 

(I've heard they got AIM-9M's also but haven't seen anything in writing confirming it)

 

GW

Thank you sir. Here's another question you might be able to answer. What was the color scheme on those missiles back in the early 80s? I was thinking white instead of lt ghost grey but not sure

Thanks again

Jeff

[GW8345]

34 minutes ago, Raptor.777 said:

Thank you sir. Here's another question you might be able to answer. What was the color scheme on those missiles back in the early 80s? I was thinking white instead of lt ghost grey but not sure

Thanks again

Jeff

The AIM-9L's back then were white, the grey Sidewinders didn't come around until the AIM-9M's and then the Lima's started getting repainted when they went through depot maintenance so they would be white back in 82.

hth

GW

[Raptor.777]

1 hour ago, GW8345 said:

The AIM-9L's back then were white, the grey Sidewinders didn't come around until the AIM-9M's and then the Lima's started getting repainted when they went through depot maintenance so they would be white back in 82.

hth

GW

You think still all the same data stencils were on there to just white?

[GW8345]

16 hours ago, Raptor.777 said:

You think still all the same data stencils were on there to just white?

Yes, all the stencils would be on the white missiles just like the grey missiles. The stencils would be black on the white rocket motor and warhead, white on the guidance section. The warhead would have a yellow band and the rocket motor would have a brown band. The motor does not have an arming key (that would come later when the Lima's were retrofitted with more updated rocket motors used on the Mike's).

GW

[Raptor.777]

2 hours ago, GW8345 said:

Yes, all the stencils would be on the white missiles just like the grey missiles. The stencils would be black on the white rocket motor and warhead, white on the guidance section. The warhead would have a yellow band and the rocket motor would have a brown band. The motor does not have an arming key (that would come later when the Lima's were retrofitted with more updated rocket motors used on the Mike's).

GW

Thank you sir

[JohnEB]

From what I recall, they were "L" s, not Ms.

I understand that the Is were brand new and the U.S. expeditiously passed some to the U.K. for the conflict.

[Stephen]

16 hours ago, JohnEB said:

From what I recall, they were "L" s, not Ms.

I understand that the Is were brand new and the U.S. expeditiously passed some to the U.K. for the conflict.

In Sea Harrier pilot David Morgan's book I recall he mentioned that some of the crates the missiles came in  were marked USAF Bitburg.

[Raptor.777]

Thank you everyone for the information. One more ? though, where could one get a accurate representation of a british fighter pilot in 1/48 scale from the early 80s? The figure in the kit is not that good

Thank you again

Jeff

Edited April 22, 2025 by Raptor.777