The Australian National Maritime Museum is hosting a commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Jaywick, a covert mission conducted during World War II to sabotage Japanese ships in Singapore Harbor. The daring mission was executed by Australia’s Special Operations, also known as the Z Special Unit, and is considered the starting point for Australia’s Special Forces.
Key Points
- Operation Jaywick was a secret World War II mission targeting Japanese ships in Singapore Harbor, executed by the Z Special Unit composed of mainly Australian, but also British, Dutch, New Zealand, Timorese and Indonesian nationals.
- The mission involved a perilous 3,960 km journey from Western Australia to Singapore Harbor aboard the captured Japanese fishing boat Krait, which was renamed after a deadly Asian snake for the operation.
- Despite multiple challenges, including engine failure and the need for on-the-spot repairs, the mission was successful, sinking or severely damaging six out of seven targeted ships.
- The audacity of the mission led to tragic consequences in Singapore, as the Japanese, not believing an enemy operation was responsible, subjected civilians to a wave of arrests, torture, and executions known as the “Double Tenth.”
- The Krait, now a registered war memorial, is owned by the Australian War Memorial and operated jointly with the Australian National Maritime Museum, which houses original objects from the mission.
