In 1988, civil war erupted in Somalia, plunging the country into chaos and terror as combat operations triggered widespread famine. Early negotiations in 1993 between the warring parties failed to achieve peace. The American military then developed “Operation Gothic Serpent,” aimed at capturing General Mohammed Farah Aidid, a prominent anti-government leader.
On October 3, 1993, forces attempted to capture two of Aidid’s clan leaders in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The operation involved a special forces unit supported by 16 helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, including MH-60L Black Hawks.
While the initial capture was successful, the unit faced intense resistance from rebels and local civilians, including women and children. Two MH-60L helicopters were shot down, resulting in casualties and necessitating a rescue operation by UN forces in Mogadishu. This engagement would later be described as the most intense close combat experienced by American soldiers since the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the operation failed to alter Somalia’s trajectory, and by 1994, both UN and US forces withdrew from the country.
Model Features
- ML-60L helicopter model (early version) as used during Operation Gothic Serpent in October 1993
- Build the helicopter in three variants: with FLIR and nose radar, with FLIR only, or with additional internal fuel tank
- Features precise geometry matching real helicopter specifications
- Includes colour schemes and decals with six helicopter marking variants
- Scale: 1:48
- Number of Parts: 310 pieces
- Length: 414 mm
- Width: 111 mm
- Includes detailed assembly instructions
- Highly detailed sprues with high accuracy made from quality plastic
- Box size: 410 x 260 x 55 mm