JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesian rescuers searching for a submarine that went missing with 53 people on board found an oil spill on Wednesday near its dive location, authorities said. The 44-year-old submarine, KRI Nanggala-402, was conducting a torpedo drill in waters north of the island of Bali but failed to relay the results as expected, a navy spokesman said. An aerial search found an oil spill near the submarine’s dive location and two navy vessels with sonar capability have been deployed to assist the hunt, Indonesia’s Defense Ministry said. A ministry statement said requests for assistance had been sent and Australia, Singapore and India had responded. An Indonesia reported that Indonesian navy official Julius Widjojono said he suspected the submarine had descended to a depth of 600-700 metres.

“We are still searching in the waters of Bali, 60 miles (96 km) from Bali, (for) 53 people,” military chief Hadi Tjahjanto told Reuters in a text message. He said contact with the vessel was lost at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The 1,395-tonne KRI Nanggala-402 was built in Germany in 1977, according to the defense ministry, and joined Indonesian fleet in 1981. It underwent a two-year refit in South Korea that was completed in 2012.

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An Indonesia reported that Indonesian navy official Julius Widjojono said he suspected the submarine had descended to a depth of 600-700 metres.

Well if it did, that's below her maximum safe depth by a factor of 2.

Diesel-electric, I assume?

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Originally posted by jhe888:
Diesel-electric, I assume?

Believe so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakra-class_submarine

Yes, search parties have a found an oil slick in the area. Fear for its crew

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Originally posted by jhe888:
Diesel-electric, I assume?

That’s terrible news. My condolences.

Damn.

That sub was 1/2 of their Attack Sub fleet and 1/7th of their entire submarine fleet.

Might I ask an obvious question...What in the hell is Indonesia doing trying to run subs? Seems like they have a million other better uses of their limited $$$.

May God have mercy on you my brothers...I hope it was quick.

I always prayed ( if it was to be) for a quick depressurization vs a slow fill or, even worse, a fire.



1977 tech...yeesh

4th most populous country in the world and they're on the South China Sea. They don't have a huge military, but they would be in a world of hurt if some unscrupulous neighbor (cough China) decided to control shipping around them...

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Originally posted by bigdeal:
Might I ask an obvious question...What in the hell is Indonesia doing trying to run subs? Seems like they have a million other better uses of their limited $$$.

3rd or 4th longest coastline in the world.

Who would dare it on a 40+ year old sub? NUTS!!!

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Originally posted by wreckdiver:
Who would dare it on a 40+ year old sub? NUTS!!!

The US Sub fleet aint exactly a bunch of spring chickens, either.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
Who would dare it on a 40+ year old sub? NUTS!!!

Taiwan has an ex-US sub that was built in 1944.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cutlass_(SS-478)

6-700 meters is deep.

I have great respect for Germany engineers, but still, that is deep.

Fair winds and follow seas....

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Might I ask an obvious question...What in the hell is Indonesia doing trying to run subs? Seems like they have a million other better uses of their limited $$$.

When you want an offensive anti-surface capability, there's nothing better than having a submarine. Surface ships and airplanes are great for presence but, when you want to send somebody's ship to the bottom, use a sub.

Indonesia has a handful of the world's important shipping chokepoints (Strait of Malacca, Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait) that China is steadily ramping up the intimidation postures around the SCS, having a sub around is a nice trump-card to have in your hand.

Damn. That is horrible

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Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Might I ask an obvious question...What in the hell is Indonesia doing trying to run subs? Seems like they have a million other better uses of their limited $$$.

3rd or 4th longest coastline in the world.

Most countries with significant coastlines have subs. That's also a 'rough neighborhood,' being in close proximity to China.

If the NorKs can operate their own submarines, there should be no problem at all with Indonesia having their own sub force. I would MUCH rather take a trip on an Indonesian sub than a North Korean one. . .

And, yeah, 40 years isn't that big of a deal, so long as the subs are maintained properly.

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Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Might I ask an obvious question...What in the hell is Indonesia doing trying to run subs? Seems like they have a million other better uses of their limited $$$.

When you want an offensive anti-surface capability, there's nothing better than having a submarine. Surface ships and airplanes are great for presence but, when you want to send somebody's ship to the bottom, use a sub.

Indonesia has a handful of the world's important shipping chokepoints (Strait of Malacca, Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait) that China is steadily ramping up the intimidation postures around the SCS, having a sub around is a nice trump-card to have in your hand.

It doesn't appear Indonesia's sub force is much of a deterrent to anyone. Just sayin'.