Built in Italy during the mid 30's for the Polish Ocean Lines and named after Stefan Batory, the famous sixteenth-Century king of Poland, the luxury liner Batory was pressed into wartime service during the Second World War as an attack-transport. She subsequently became the pride of the Polish Ocean Lines merchant fleet and the entire Polish navy.

Batory took part in many military actions such as the evacuation of the French-Polish-British corps from Narvik (1940), evacuation of allied troops from St. Nazaire and St. Jean de Luz (1940), invasion of Algier and Sicily (1942), military voyages to India (1943), six months services as a troop carrier from Egypt to Italy (1943) and the invasion of southern France.

M.S. Batory carried out 222 round trips across the oceans carrying over 270,000 passengers altogether. She performed around 75 cruises, tourist trips, transportation of children to Poland for summer holidays with over 30,000 passengers taking part. During her war time service of over six years, she carried about 120,000 soldiers. She visited about 150 ports in all parts of the globe.

Mirage released this kit this past February and depicts the Batory as she appeard for Operation 'Husky', the invasion of Italy in 1943.

This 1/.500 scale kit (No. 500 801) is available now direct from Mirage's on-line retail site for 55.00 PLN ($14.22 USD) plus shipping.