Tamiya 31615 - 1/700 RN Battleship Prince of Wales Battle of Malaya Sea Model Kit - off-road history inspired naval kit for hobby builders  [31615]

The Prince of Wales in Second World War Service

The Prince of Wales, the second ship of the King George V class, was completed in March 1941 and soon took part in operations including the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck. Later she was assigned to the Far East to assist in defence of British territories. During the Battle of Malaya she suffered heavy aerial attack and sank. Tamiya's 1/700 scale kit recreates the ship during that engagement and includes scale Type 96 "Nell" and Type 1 "Betty" bombers.

How the Malaya Action Unfolded

Sailing from Singapore on December 8, 1941, the Prince of Wales moved to counter Japanese landings in Malaya. Incorrect reports sent the fleet to Kuantan where no enemy was present. By December 10 Japanese reconnaissance had pinpointed the battleship and Japanese bombers launched a damaging assault that led to her loss, a key early setback in the Pacific theatre.

The Attackers: Nell and Betty Explained

The Type 1 "Betty" bomber, introduced in 1940, used Mitsubishi air-cooled engines and carried up to 1,000 kg of weapons with a range beyond 4,200 km. The earlier Type 96 "Nell" from 1936 also had Mitsubishi engines, carried around 800 kg and could operate to roughly 4,000 km. Both types were instrumental in maritime strikes and are modelled in this kit.

What the Kit Provides

Tamiya's detailed 1/700 Prince of Wales measures 322mm in length and accurately renders major armament like the 35.6cm L45 quadruple main guns and 40mm Pom-Pom AA mounts. The kit includes seven Japanese bomber models and a stand so builders can present the aircraft flying over the ship.