{{Short description|Australian historic vessel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{more footnotes needed|date=March 2011}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= Krait (AWM 067338).jpg |image_caption=''Krait'' in Broken Bay in World War II }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=Australia |flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|civil}} |name= ''Krait'' |namesake=krait |owner= |operator= |registry= |laid_down= |launched= |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |acquired= |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |maiden_voyage= |captured=1941 |out_of_service= |homeport= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |honors= |fate= |status=Museum ship 1985 |notes= |badge= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |type= |tonnage=68 gross tons |length={{convert|21.33|m|ft}} |beam={{convert|3.35|m|ft}} |draught={{convert|1.5|m|ft}} |depth= |hold_depth= |propulsion=Gardner 6LW diesel |range={{convert|8000|mi|km}} |notes= }} }} '''MV ''Krait''''' {{IPAc-en|'|k|r|ai|t}} is a wooden-hulled vessel famous for its use in World War II by the Z Special Unit (Z Force) of Australia in the raid against Japanese ships anchored in Singapore Harbour. The raid was known as Operation Jaywick.
''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL31217 |title=White ensign flown from HMAS Krait : Able Seaman R H Easom, Services Reconnaissance Department}}</ref>
After its sale, ''Krait'' was operated off Borneo, bought by a British sawmiller and was renamed ''Pedang'' (Sword).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Krait |url=https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/our-fleet/krait |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Australian National Maritime Museum |language=en}}</ref> In the late 1950s, two Australians recognised ''Krait'' whilst on a timber-related business trip. A public appeal was made to purchase and return ''Krait'' to Australia, resulting in the forming of the ''Krait'' Trust Fund which successfully purchased ''Krait'' and return it to Australia in 1964.<ref name=":0" />
''Pedang'' was renamed back to ''Krait'' and was used as an Australian Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol vessel performing patrol and search and rescue duties while also used for boating courses and school visits. On Anzac Day 1964, ''Krait'' was formally dedicated as a war memorial by the governor of NSW. A plaque was affixed to the wheelhouse. She was then acquired by the Australian War Memorial in 1985, put in the care of Sydney Maritime Museum and then permanently loaned to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where she has been displayed to the public in water since 1988.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Denyer |first=Winsome |date=2015-04-05 |title=MV Krait: Unassuming fishing boat to be restored and memorialised after crucial role in WWII's Special Operations |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-06/wwii-secret-operations-boat-mv-krait-to-be-memorialised/6371658 |access-date=2026-03-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Concerned with the deterioration of the boat, Douglas Herps, one of the surviving members of Z Special Unit, campaigned for the restoration of the boat and to display it on land.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=McPhedran |first=Ian |date=27 December 2013 |title=MV Krait of Operation Jaywick to be preserved by National Maritime Museum |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/mv-krait-of-operation-jaywick-to-be-preserved-by-national-maritime-museum/news-story/9d9d3b1a90973e034fad91e37725a8dc |access-date=12 March 2026 |work=news.com.au}}</ref> in 2013, Herps successfully campaigned for the boat to be restored but died before restoration started.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Denyer |first=Winsome |date=2017-04-23 |title=MV Krait: Top-secret WWII vessel under restoration for Maritime Museum memorial |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-24/mv-krait-restoration-project-underway-at-maritime-museum/8452742 |access-date=2026-03-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In 2017, restoration on the boat started with a $500,000 grant by the Australian Army and donations from the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Herps family. The restoration was done by Michael Bartley Shipwrights.<ref name=":3" />
== Legacy == 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.
== Gallery == <gallery widths="200px" heights="200px"> 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 </gallery>
==Affiliations== *TS ''Krait'', Australian Navy Cadets
==See also== * Australian commandos
==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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043838/https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/vessels/krait |date=6 March 2019 }} – vessel page at the Australian National Maritime Museum
{{coord|33|52|6|S|151|11|59|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krait}} Category:Military history of Australia during World War II Category:Museum ships in Australia Category:Special forces of Australia Category:Ships of Australia Category:Australian National Maritime Museum Category:Naval trawlers Category:Captured ships Category:World War II raids