Fujimi of Japan has announced the December 2017 release of their “Operation Ten Ichi-Go First guerrilla Troops Set (Yamato / Yahagi / Destroyer 8 Vessels)” in tiny 1/3000 scale.

The Japanese Ten Ichi-Go was part of the Battle for Okinawa in April, 1945. The operation, which was the last major sortie of the Japanese Imperial Navy, was a suicidal attempt to attack the US landings with the Yamato’s big guns. The idea was for Yamato and her escorts to force their way to Okinawa and then beach themselves there and fight as shore batteries until they were destroyed. Surviving naval crew members were then supposed to abandon ship and fight U.S. forces on land as unarmed, untrained infantry. In the event, this idiotic plan was derailed as the fleet was intercepted and destroyed by US naval aircraft long before reaching the island.

The set consists of the battleship Yamato, light cruiser Yahagi, and eight destroyers. Also included is a small sea base to support the doomed little fleet. All parts come molded in grey plastic.

Yamato’s Last Sortie Fleet is listed by Hobbylink Japan at https://hlj.com/product/fuj40142/Nav and can be pre-ordered for US$20.46.