Indonesia | Oil Spill Found Where Missing Submarine Lost Contact

Defence Redefined

22/04/2021

An oil spill was located in the area off Bali, where the Indonesian Navy lost contact with a submarine, according to the country’s Ministry of Defence.

An aerial search found an oil spill near the submarine’s dive location.

Earlier, the Indonesian Navy announced that a submarine, with a 53-member crew, was missing during a torpedo exercise off the coast of Bali.

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Indonesia has asked for international help and many countries, such as Singapore, Australia and India, have expressed their willingness to participate in the investigation, according to the ministry.

The Cakra class (type 209/1300) submarine KRI Nanggala 402, was at a depth of 700 meters, in the north of the island, according to the commander of the armed forces, Hadi Tjahjanto. After 3 a.m. local time (21.00 on Tuesday, Greek time) there was no communication with the base, said Navy spokesman First Admiral Julius Widjojono. “We know the area but it’s quite deep,” he added.

The German-built submarine KRI Nangalla was launched in 1981 and underwent a two-year refit in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, which was completed in 2012. 

In the past, Indonesia maintained a fleet of 12 submarines of Soviet origin, to patrol the waters of its sprawling archipelago consisting of more than 17000 islands.

The Indonesian Navy currently has a fleet of five submarines, including two German 209/1300 submarines and three newer Chang Bogo class purchased from South Korea. The Navy plans to operate at least eight submarines by 2024. 

The 209 type submarine was built in five versions (209/1100, 209/1200, 209/1300, 209/1400 and 209/1500) and has been successfully exported to 13 countries, with 61 submarines built and put into operation between 1971 and 2008. The Hellenic Navy, in addition to the four “Papanikolis” class (type 214), currently has three “Glafkos” submarines of type 209/1100, three “Poseidon” class submarines of type 209/1200 and an “Ocean” class which is an upgraded version of 209/1200. 

With information from: APA-MPA, AFP, aljazeera.com, hellenicnavy.gr, defenceredefined.com.cy

* Cover photo: Archive photo of KRI Nanggala 402 submarine from wikipedia.org

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