The Z Special Unit was a joint Allied special forces unit formed during the Second World War to operate behind Japanese lines in Southeast Asia.[1] Another hardly known Allied unit, like the X Troops (which I talked about here), the brave young men of Z Special Unit faced torture and execution if captured, and yet still managed to carry out their duties with bravery and determination.
Made up mainly of Australian troops, Z Special Unit was a specialist reconnaissance and sabotage unit that also included British, Dutch, New Zealand, Timorese, and Indonesian soldiers. For two years the unit carried out unconventional guerrilla warfare against the Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific. Their 81 missions included carrying out attacks, laying mines under Japanese ships on canoes, and parachuting into areas such as Borneo to join up with local tribesmen.[2]
The best known of the Z Special Unit missions are Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau, both of which involved raids on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour.[3] Operation Jaywick was carried out on the night of 26 September 1943, when the unit paddled into a harbour and placed limpet mines on several Japanese ships before returning to their hiding spot. The explosions sank or seriously damaged seven Japanese ships, comprising over 39,000 tons between them. After the success of Operation Jaywick preparations began for Operation Rimau. The plan was to deliver commandoes to enemy waters via submarine with 15 one-man, motorised submersible canoes known as “Sleeping Beauties”.[4] However, on the 10 October 1944, an hour before the raid was to commence, disaster struck when a coastal Malay Police patrol boat challenged the Mustika near Kasoe Island and Samboe Island. Shots were fired between the vessels, with most of the patrol boat crew were killed. At least one patrol crew escaped, however, and managed to get back to report the incident. It was known by the Z Special Unit that the patrol boat would seek help from Japanese occupation authorities, so they decided to abort the mission.
Until 1980 the men of the Z Special Unit were sworn to secrecy, hence why their heroism is seldom acknowledged. Even today, there is little information out there easily accessible on this unit. However, Z Special Unit was the subject of an Australian SBS documentary series Australia’s Secret Heroes which featured interviews with original Z members.[5]
[1] “Z Special Unit,” Virtual War Memorial Australia, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/581
[2] Christopher Miskimon, “Z Special Unit: The Elite Allied World War II Guerrilla Force,” Warfare History Network, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/z-special-unit-the-elite-allied-world-war-ii-guerrilla-force/
[3] “M & Z Units,” Australian Commando Association, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://www.commando.org.au/copy-of-wwii-squadrons
[4] “M & Z Units,” Australian Commando Association
[5] James Purtill and James Dunlevie, “Daring deeds of World War II commandos Z Special Unit kept secret for 30 years,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-30/z-special-unit-history/5706968
[Image 1] “Z Special Unit,” AWM2016.17.3, Virtual War Memorial Australia, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/581
[Image 2] “M-Z Special Unit Monument,” Wikimedia Commons, last accessed 6 May 2023, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M-Z_Special_Unit_Monument.jpg
It’s all in the Past... 