APPLE PODCASTS
The ‘Z Special Unit’ was one of the most audacious and little known clandestine units of World War 2. It comprised of Australian, British, New Zealand, Dutch, Timorese and other Allied personnel. One of their most famous missions was ‘Operation Jaywick’. This saw a disguised Japanese fishing vessel the ‘Kofuku Maru’ renamed the ‘MV Krait’. It set sail from Exmouth Gulf to Singapore where the operatives, after paddling more than 50KM in collapsable canoes called ‘Folbots’, attacked Japanese ships at anchor with ‘Limpet mines’. They then made their escape and returned to Australia leaving the Japanese confounded as to where the raiders came from. This extraordinary operation was followed by 81 other covert missions including the ill-fated ‘Operation Rimau’ and ‘Operation Semut’. This episode of Backyard Battlefields is a chat with Gavin Mortimer, author of the Osprey Publication ‘Z Special Unit’ about the history, people and events surrounding this incredible force. Gavin is also the author of some other seminal books on wartime special forces including; ‘David Stirling: The Phoney Major, The Life, Times and Truth about the Founder of the SAS’ the SBS in World War II, The Long Range Desert Group in World War II and Merrils Marauders.
