Tamiya 31615 - 1/700 RN Battleship Prince of Wales Battle of Malaya Sea Model Kit - detailed WWII naval kit for collectors  [31615]

Prince of Wales: A Notable WWII Battleship

The British battleship Prince of Wales is a key vessel from the King George V class, completed in March 1941. Soon after commissioning she joined efforts to pursue the German battleship Bismarck and was later sent to strengthen British forces around Singapore. During the Battle of Malaya she was attacked by Japanese bombers and sunk. Tamiya's 1/700 rendition presents the ship as seen in its final engagement, and the kit includes scale versions of Type 96 "Nell" and Type 1 "Betty" bombers.

December 1941 Engagement off Malaya

On December 8, 1941 the Prince of Wales sailed from Singapore to challenge Japanese landings in Malaya. Faulty intelligence led to a fruitless search at Kuantan, and by December 10 Japanese reconnaissance had located the battleship. A concentrated aerial assault from bomber formations inflicted severe damage and ultimately sank the ship, shaping the course of the Pacific campaign.

Japanese Strike Aircraft Overview

The Type 1 "Betty", introduced in 1940, used Mitsubishi air-cooled engines and had a range exceeding 4,200 km while able to carry up to 1,000 kg of ordnance. The earlier Type 96 "Nell", operational from 1936, also mounted Mitsubishi engines and could carry about 800 kg up to roughly 4,000 km. Both aircraft were central to Japanese maritime strikes in the region.

Kit Features and Display Options

Tamiya's 1/700 Prince of Wales model is finely detailed and measures 322mm long. The kit reproduces main armament such as the 35.6cm L45 quadruple turrets and multiple 40mm Pom-Pom mounts. Included are seven Japanese bombers and a display stand that lets builders pose the aircraft in flight for a realistic diorama.