Created in 3055, the Dagger has slowly been disseminating into the Inner Sphere from small shipments from the Magistracy of Canopus. Designed in response to the Clan war, the Dagger was made to silently move infantry or rebel units around, even far behind lines. In recent years, however, the Dagger ISV has simply become a very cost effective APC, capable of supporting dismounted Battle Armor and infantry.
                 Though lightly armed and armored, the Dagger is quick, and well armed to take the fight to infantry and other vehicles, especially when carrying Inferno rockets. The low price has also made it popular in mercenary units. The Federated Suns and Lyran Alliance have also purchased a few to help quickly rebuild shattered units. The Capellan Confederation has shown no interest in the design, possibly because their Fa Shih Battle Armor do not need dedicated transports.

               The Dagger was built on three principals: survivability, reliability   and cost effectiveness. The Earthwerks Turbine and Harvester 2K missile systems had been proven on the popular Plainsman Hovertank. The Datacom 50 ECM suite was among the most reliable available, know to take direct hits and continue to function.
               The three M100 Heavy machine guns are the highest caliber machine guns in current production in the Inner Sphere. Arranged in a pseudo gattling gun mount, the three guns rotate rapidly while firing, capable of inflicted serious casualties on infantry and also on BattleMechs at close range.
                 Another feared ability, demonstrated so often in the Chaos March, is the ability to carry Inferno missiles and immoliate anything that gets in the Dagger's way. This has caused the   destruction of many cities.

               A few Daggers with limited technology were built in 3013 to test the design's concept. These carry a eight and a half tons of standard armor but no ECM.

                     Many mercenary units make use of the Dagger. The Magistracy of Canopus also uses large numbers of the Dagger, about twice as many as the number of Maultiers in use. In the Taurian Concordant, the ratio is reversed.
                   In addition, they have been seen in House Davion's Avalon Hussar RCTs and in House Steiner's Lyran Guards. Several lances of the machines have apparently been spread around the damaged units in an attempt to shore up the undermanned units.