The Krait

The Krait is a historic wooden boat now on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Originally a Japanese fishing boat named Kofuku Maru based in Singapore, the vessel was seized by the U.S. Navy after the outbreak of war and used to evacuate people from the region. After arriving in Australia in 1942, she was taken over by the army and renamed Krait, after a small but deadly snake.

The boat achieved its greatest historical significance in September 1943, when it carried members of the Z Special Unit to Singapore. There, the unit carried out Operation Jaywick, successfully attacking the harbor and sinking several Japanese ships. After the war, the Krait was still used for reconnaissance missions and was present at the Japanese surrender on Ambon. She was later sold in Borneo and renamed Pedang, before being brought back to Australia in 1964 through a public fundraising campaign.

Since 1988, the Krait has been on permanent display in the water at the National Maritime Museum. After an extensive restoration that began in 2017 and was funded by government grants and donations, the boat is once again in good condition. It serves as a floating memorial to the courage of the Australian commandos and has established a tradition in which ships of Australian commando units are named after venomous snakes.