The Reality of the Early Southern Operations through Army–Navy Cooperation

On December 8, 1941 (Japan time), prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces launched the Malayan Campaign, aiming to seize the strategic stronghold of Singapore. This special feature examines the early Southern Operations with a focus on the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Southern Expeditionary Fleet, which supported the Army’s landings from the sea. In addition, we present scale model recreations of the British Royal Navy’s Force Z, which suffered a historic blow in the Battle off Malaya—the first time in history that capital ships underway were sunk solely by air attack.

【Imperial Japanese Navy – Southern Expeditionary Fleet】
013 Commentary: The Southern Expeditionary Fleet Supporting the Malayan Landings – Yuki Sakai
018 Heavy Cruiser Chōkai (Aoshima 1/700) – Yamashina Naval Arsenal
026 Heavy Cruiser Suzuya (Fujimi 1/700) – Shintaro Uchiki
032 Light Cruiser Sendai (Aoshima 1/700) – Yuki Konaka
036 Destroyer Hatsuyuki (Yamashita Hobby 1/700 modified) – Funazuki Megane
040 Commentary: The Kota Bharu Landing and Transport Awajisan Maru – Yuki Sakai
042 Transport Awajisan Maru (Full Scratch Build 1/700) – Yuki Sakai
046 Light Cruiser Kinu (Tamiya 1/700) – Yoshio Sato
050 Light Cruiser Yura (Fujimi + Tamiya 1/700) – Geisuian Hachijuhachi
054 Cruiser Yura & Sendai – Hull Line Drawings – Shogo Hatanaka
056 Kaidai Type IIIb Submarine (Aoshima 1/700), Type V (Hasegawa 1/700 modified) – Yoshio Sato
060 Commentary: The Day Aircraft Sank Battleships Underway – Yuki Sakai
062 Type 1 Land-Based Attack Aircraft Model 11 (Sword 1/72) – Yamawasabi

【Royal Navy – Force Z】
066 Battleship Prince of Wales (Flyhawk 1/700) – koima
076 Battlecruiser Repulse (Tamiya 1/700) – Mai Kohane
080 Destroyers Electra, Express (Tamiya 1/700 modified)
Destroyer Vampire (Tamiya 1/700)
Destroyer Tenedos (Aoshima 1/700 modified) – Geisuian Hachijuhachi
086 AFD IX 55,000-ton Floating Dock (Mattari Chiendo 1/700) – Mikito Hayashi
090 Destroyer Jupiter (Aoshima 1/700) – Junichi Naito

【Kit Review】
002 U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford (Trumpeter 1/350) – Yuta Hanaoka
095 JMSDF Destroyer Murasame (Waterline Model) (Salvo Model 1/700) – Rei Mitsutake

【Serial Features】
092 Hobbyland Staff “Big Sis” Explains Ships
100 Theory and Practice of Water Effects Vol.4 – Jiro Hayano
106 Photo Album of JMSDF Vessels – Akitaka Matsumoto
110 Ocean Liners of the World: Five-Masted Sailing Ships – Eight Five-Star Giants
“France,” “France II,” “Maria Rickmers,” “R.C. Rickmers,”
“Potosi,” “Preussen,” “Copenhagen,” “Royal Clipper” – Yoshiaki Nishimura
119 Solid Ship Modeling Basics: “Viking Glory” – Takumi Kamakura
126 Illustrated Guide to Imperial Japanese Navy Vessels – Kunihiko Sato
130 Label Archives: French Navy Clemenceau-Class Aircraft Carriers – Yoshiyuki Kono

【Information】
136 Voice Tube (News & Updates)