MV Krait

MV Krait

The MV "Krait" 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.

History

"Krait" was originally a Japanese fishing vessel based in Singapore called "Kofuku Maru". Following the outbreak of war the ship was taken over by Allied forces 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. 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 sold following the war and was operated off Borneo until she was purchased for use as an Australian Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol vessel in 1964. She was acquired by the Australian War Memorial in 1985 and is currently on loan to the Australian National Maritime Museum where she has been displayed to the public since 1988.

Since the success of "Krait" on Operation Jaywick, Australian Commando Unit vessels have traditionally used the names of venomous snakes. This tradition continues today with "Red Viper" and "Coral Snake" as current examples.

ee also

* Australian commandos
* Operation Jaywick
* Z Special Unit

References

* [http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2003/jaywick/index.htm Australian Department of Veteran's Affairs OP Jaywick website, background and photos]
* [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]
* [http://www.coastalpatrol.org.au/history/mvkrait.htm Post war service with Volunteer Coastal Patrol]
* [http://www.hnsa.org/ships/krait.htm HNSA Web Page: Commando Boat Krait]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Krait — Krait, n. [Native name.] (Zo[ o]l.) A very venomous snake of India ({Bungarus c[oe]ruleus}), allied to the cobra. Its upper parts are bluish or brownish black, often with narrow white streaks; the belly is whitish. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Krait — der; s, s (meist Plur.) <aus gleichbed. Hindi krait> Gattung bis 2 m langer Giftnattern in Süd u. Südostasien …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • krait- — *krait germ., Verb: nhd. ritzen; ne. scratch (Verb); Hinweis: s. *kraita ; Etymologie: s. ing. *gred ?, *grod ?, Verb, kratzen?, Pokorny 405 …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • krait — [krīt] n. [Hindi karait] any of a genus (Bungarus) of SC and SE Asian elapine snakes that are generally black or dark brown with tan or yellow bands …   English World dictionary

  • Krait — Kraits Gebänderter Krait (Bungarus fasciatus) Systematik Reihe: Landwirbeltiere (Tetrapoda) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Krait — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Animaux Le Krait est un serpent venimeux. Objets La Krait est une souris de la marque Razer. Catégorie  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • krait — /kruyt/, n. any of several large, usually banded, placid but highly venomous snakes constituting the genus Bungarus, of the cobra family, common in southeastern Asia and the Malay Archipelago. [1870 75; < Hindi karait] * * * ▪ snake       any of… …   Universalium

  • krait — Elapid snake of the genus Bungarus, found in northern India, whose bite is associated with generalized anesthetic and paralytic effects, as opposed to local pain, discoloration, or edema; neurotoxic symptoms are similar to those induced by …   Medical dictionary

  • krait — noun Etymology: Hindi & Urdu karait Date: 1874 any of a genus (Bungarus) of brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • krait — noun /kɹaɪt/ Any of several brightly coloured, venomous snakes, of the genus Bungarus, of southeast Asia …   Wiktionary

  • krait — n. any of a number of highly poisonous snakes belonging to the cobra family (common to southeastern Asia) …   English contemporary dictionary

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