Kofuku Maru Fishing Boat Model

Levent Suberk Sun Jun 02, 2024 8:54 am

I have been making 1/35 scale model of Kofuku Maru fishing boat.

It renamed as Krait and has been used as a military vessel during WW2 later. During WW2, codenamed Operation Jaywick, Krait trawler was disguised as a Japanese fishing boat and successfully sailed to within striking distance of Singapore. Six operatives then deployed three two man folding canoes to island hop over three nights and finally reach Singapore Harbour where they attached magnetic limpet mines to the hulls of Japanese merchant vessels. Six of the mines exploded damaging some 37,000 tonnes of shipping.

Further information:
https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/our-fleet/krait

Levent Suberk Sun Jun 02, 2024 11:52 am

While searching Australian National Maritime Museum I found that interesting reading about AE2 submarine.

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/gallipoli/dardanelles-strategy/submarine-ae2

**944_Jim** Sun Jun 02, 2024 10:42 pm

Beautiful work, Levent!

getback Mon Jun 03, 2024 5:41 am

The fishing boat is looking good ! I read some of the submarine write up some crazy stuff ! Is the boat all balsa ? Very Happy

Levent Suberk Mon Jun 03, 2024 6:20 am

Thanks friends Very Happy

Model's main frame is 6 mm balsa sheet, hull planking and deck are lime wood sticks, cabin and other buildings are plywood. Accesories are metal and plastic.

rsv1cox Mon Jun 03, 2024 10:40 am

I enjoyed your story Levent. And, when I first saw your model I thought of the Dolittle raid on Japan launched in 1942. They had to go early because a Japanese fishing boat that resembles your model had seen them. There are B&W movies of an American Destroyer blowing them up.

Levent Suberk Mon Jun 03, 2024 1:01 pm

Thanks for info, Bob. I didn't know this. I read this further info on Naval History and Heritage Command web site:

"The Japanese, monitoring U.S. Navy radio traffic, deduced that a carrier raid on the homeland was a possibility after 14 April 1942 and prepared accordingly. TF-16 approached to within 650 miles of Japan on 18 April 1942. Lacking radar, the Japanese “early warning” capability lay in parallel lines of radio-equipped converted fishing trawlers operating at prescribed intervals offshore. One of these little vessels, No.23 Nitto Maru, discovered the task force on the morning of 18 April and radioed a sighting report. Although Halsey had agreed to take TF-16 within 400 miles of Japan to ensure maximum success, as Doolittle had requested while en route, the admiral recognized the potential threat of Japanese land-based air assets (indeed, 80 medium bombers had been massed in the Kanto area) to half of the U.S. Navy’s carrier force in the Pacific. The exigencies of war dictated that Halsey order Hornet to launch the 16 Mitchells earlier than planned."

Photo of No.23 Nitto Maru:

rdw777 Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:56 pm

Excellent work on the fishing boat Levent…Planked structures are attractive…. I’m sure it required careful attention to keep it straight while building too….