DARWIN, NT. MV KRAIT, LENGTH 70' DIESEL ENGINED, SPEED 6 1/2 KNOTS, RANGE 8000 MILES. FORMERLY ...

DARWIN, NT. MV KRAIT, LENGTH 70' DIESEL ENGINED, SPEED 6 1/2 KNOTS, RANGE 8000 MILES. FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF A JAPANESE FISHING FIRM IN SINGAPORE. AFTER THE FALL OF SINGAPORE, SHE WAS EMPLOYED IN THE RESCUE OF EVACUEES FROM SHIPS WHICH HAD BEEN SUNK ALONG THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA. SOME 1100 PEOPLE WERE TRANSPORTED IN THE KRAIT DURING THIS PERIOD. WHEN THE NETHERLAND EAST INDIES SURRENDERED THE KRAIT WAS SAILED TO INDIA BY A CIVILIAN, MR. W.R. REYNOLDS. IT EVENTUALLY REACHED AUSTRALIA AND, BECAUSE IT WAS A FORMER JAPANESE VESSEL, IT WAS SELECTED TO TRANSPORT MEMBERS OF OPERATION JAYWICK, CONDUCTED BY THE Z SPECIAL UNIT, AUSTRALIAN SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT, INTO JAPANESE OCCUPIED WATERS NEAR SINGAPORE, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THEM TO CARRY OUT THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL RAID ON SHIPPING IN THE HARBOUR.