Index, bibliography,ill, maps, p.310.non-fictionIn the last months of 1944, a group of elite Australian and British commandos was selected for the biggest Allied behind-the-scenes operation of the Pacific War. Their mission: to devastate the enemy's shipping by destroying the Japanese ships at anchor in Singapore Harbour. Operation Rimau, Britain's last throw of the colonial dice in South-East Asia, was intended as a body blow to the Japanese and a signal to the world that she would reclaim her Eastern Empire. Britain was trying to reclaim past glory - while Australia's wartime prime minister, John Curtin, had turned to America. In this atmosphere, Operation Rimau was planned ... Operation Rimau takes us inside the fierce conflict, and tells what really happened to these brave commandos - from the very beginnings of the operation through to their intense and courageous fighting in the South China Seas, and its aftermath. It exposes the sloppy planning behind the raid, and names the officers who betrayed and abandoned them in their hour of need, and details the political double-dealing which for so many years hid the real story behind red tape and bureaucratic lies.world war 1939-1945 - covert operations - australia, krait (ship)

During the 17th century, or the Golden Age, the Dutch Republic was involved in a number of wars at sea. The main goal of the Dutch navy was to protect shipping lanes all over the world and, if need be, to repel a naval invasion of Dutch territory. They also constantly searched for new territories from which to import the spices vital for the preservation of food. The Dutch are historically very proud of their seafaring history and honour "heroes" such as Dik Tromp, Piet Hein and Michel de Ruyter. These men were actually as much pirates as anything else and preyed on the treasures brought back from South America by the Spanish and Portuguese.This is actually a miniature sailing ship based on a small wooden clog. The two parchment sails carry heraldic decorations While the top mast also has a small red, white and blue flag. The varnished clog is decorated with a small typically Dutch scene and the word "Holland". "Made in Holland" is printed on the underside.Made in Holland