MV Krait
{{Short description|Australian historic vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2011}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:Krait (AWM 067338).jpg |Ship caption=Krait in Broken Bay during World War II }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Australia |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|civil}} |Ship name=MV Krait |Ship namesake=krait |Ship owner= |Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship captured=1941 |Ship out of service= |Ship homeport= |Ship identification= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship honors= |Ship fate= |Ship status=Museum ship 1985 |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type= |Ship tonnage=68 gross tons |Ship length={{convert|21.33|m|ft}} |Ship beam={{convert|3.35|m|ft}} |Ship draught={{convert|1.5|m|ft}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship propulsion=Gardner 6LW diesel |Ship range={{convert|8000|mi|km}} |Ship notes= }} |
The MV Krait {{IPAc-en|'|k|r|ai|t}} is a wooden-hulled vessel famous for its use during World War II by the Z Special Unit (Z Force) of Australia during the raid against Japanese ships anchored in Singapore Harbour. The raid was known as Operation Jaywick.
The MV Krait is on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) in Sydney.
History
Krait was originally a Japanese fishing vessel based in Singapore named Kofuku Maru. Following the outbreak of war, the ship was captured by the American destroyer USS Edsall and used to evacuate over 1,100 people from ships sunk along the east coast of Sumatra. The ship eventually reached Australia via Ceylon and India in 1942, and was handed over to the Australian military. In Australian service, she was renamed Krait after the small but deadly snake.
In September 1943, Krait transported members of Z Special Unit to Singapore, where they successfully raided the city's harbour, sinking seven ships, in what became known as Operation Jaywick. She returned to Australia in October. Krait was used by the Australian military throughout the war, and was present at the surrender of the Japanese forces on Ambon in September 1945.
Krait was later used as transport for intelligence-gathering missions to islands in the area, including Buru, Aru, Ceram, Banda, and Saparua. During this period, she carried several Japanese prisoners, army survey teams, and a naval intelligence officer.
At Ambon, the boat acquired a monkey as a mascot. He was named Peter and had lost his tail. Peter remained with the crew until Krait finished her service and was towed to Morotai. She was then sailed to Labuan, where she was sold and handed over to the British Borneo Company and where Able Seaman Robert Harry Easom of Perth kept its ensign as a souvenir. That ensign is now on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL31217 |title=White ensign flown from HMAS Krait : Able Seaman R H Easom, Services Reconnaissance Department}}
After its sale, Krait was operated off Borneo until she was purchased for use as an Australian Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol vessel in 1964. On Anzac Day 1964, Krait was formally dedicated as a war memorial by the governor of NSW. A plaque was affixed to the wheelhouse and is shown below. She was then acquired by the Australian War Memorial in 1985 and was lent to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where she has been displayed to the public since 1988.
From 2015, plans for restoration had been made,Denyer, Winsome [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-06/wwii-secret-operations-boat-mv-krait-to-be-memorialised/6371658 MV Krait: Unassuming fishing boat to be restored and memorialised after crucial role in WWII's Special Operations April 6, 2017] abc.net.au Retrieved April 24, 2017 and as of 2017, this work has begun.Denyer, Winsome [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-24/mv-krait-restoration-project-underway-at-maritime-museum/8452742 MV Krait: Top-secret WWII vessel under restoration for Maritime Museum memorial April 24, 2017] abc.net.au
Since the success of Krait at Singapore, Australian Commando Unit vessels have traditionally used the names of venomous snakes. This tradition continues with Red Viper and Coral Snake as current examples.
File:Krait rear shot 2008.jpg|Krait on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in 2008
File:Krait plaque.jpg|The plaque affixed to the wheelhouse in 1964 dedicating Krait as a war memorial
File:Krait at Noakes Boatyard 11 June 2022.jpg|Krait undergoing restoration 2022
Affiliations
- TS Krait, Australian Navy Cadets
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060504120447/http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2003/jaywick/index.htm Australian Department of Veteran's Affairs OP Jaywick website, background and photos]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060429034342/http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/activities/z_special/pdf/z_force.pdf Includes map of route taken and detail of raid]
- [http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/krait.htm Australian War Memorial]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060104175742/http://www.coastalpatrol.org.au/history/mvkrait.htm Post war service with Volunteer Coastal Patrol]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014043642/http://hnsa.org/ships/krait.htm HNSA Web Page: Commando Boat Krait]
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Krait (ship, 1934)}}
- [https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/vessels/krait Krait] – vessel page at the Australian National Maritime Museum
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Category:Military history of Australia during World War II
Category:Museum ships in Australia
Category:Special forces of Australia