Influence Of 12 Indonesian "Whiskey" Submarines Seize West Irian From The Netherlands

Whiskey Submarine (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a pioneer in operating submarines. No kidding. Indonesia has 12 "Whiskey" class submarines. This submarine support makes the Indonesian naval fleet so strong.

In 1962, the Dutch even discouraged against Indonesia in the struggle for West Irian. The presence of the submarine made in the Soviet Union - according to the analysis of the United States (US) - was predicted to embarrass the Dutch nation. That is why the Old Order Indonesian fleet was known to be frightening.

After independence, Indonesia and the Netherlands were involved in a heated conflict over the struggle for West Irian (Papua). At that time, the territory of the Dutch in the archipelago was limited to West Irian. This is because all other areas have been handed over to Indonesia across the various diplomatic routes that left West Irian apart.

Indonesia clearly does not want West Irian to be in Dutch hands. For Soekarno, Indonesia would not be complete without West Irian. This issue becomes a personal problem. The struggle even reached the UN forums in 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1960. The result was nil.

In the same breath, the Netherlands even insisted on forming the Papuan state immediately. In perpetuating its action, the Dutch dispatched a fleet belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy (The Royal Nederlands Navy) from the United States (US) in March 1960. The aim was to guard the waters of Papua. The fleet consists of the HNLMS carrier Karel Doorman, three destroyers and two submarines.

The Whiskey submarine (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

"As usual, in operation, an aircraft carrier is never alone. HNLMS Karel Doorman was accompanied by three destroyers, namely HNLMS Evertsen, HNLMS Kortenaer, and HNLMS Utrecht, also a tanker, "said Achmad Taufiqoerrochman in the book Maritime Leadership: A Memoar (2019).

Bung Karno was running out of patience. As a result, Bung Karno launched the Tri Komando Rakyat (Trikora) in North Square, Yogyakarta on 19 December 1961.

Bung Karno instigated Trikora to fuel the enthusiasm of the Indonesian people to reclaim West Irian. The number one Indonesian has mandated efforts to thwart the formation of a puppet state of Papua made in the Netherlands, Raise the Red and White in West Irian, and defend the integrity of the country.

"Now I ask my brothers and sisters, to the international community, why the Dutch made West Irian a puppet of Papua. The Dutch incited the people of West Irian to carry out a policy of dividing Indonesia's sovereignty by establishing the Papua State, raising the Papuan flag, creating the zoogenamde national anthem, "a piece of Trikora Soekarno's speech at that time.

The power of the submarine "Whiskey"

After announcing Trikora, Soekarno took military action to seize West Irian from the Netherlands. The operation was carried out by the West Irian Liberation Mandala Command, a cross-force combat command under Major General Suharto.

Soeharto asked the navy to deploy the Whiskey submarine to carry out reconnaissance tasks. The goal is so that Indonesia can find out the terrain and strengths of the opposing party. Indonesia at that time was recorded to have 12 Whiskey submarines.

“The arrival of 12 Whiskey submarines cannot be separated from the increasing tension with the Netherlands over Papua's status. On 7 September 1959 two submarines arrived in Surabaya from Poland which were later named RI Cakra (401) and RI Nanggala (402). The name Cakra is taken from King Kresna's magic weapon, while Nanggala is the unmatched weapon of King Baladewa who is also Kresna's brother, "wrote Darmawan in the book Unveiling the Waves Towards the Maritime State (2018).

After that, four more submarines arrived in December 1961. Each of them was named RI Nagabanda (403), RI Trisula (404), RI Nagarangsang (405), RI Tjandrasa (406). The remaining six submarines then arrived in December 1962. Namely, RI Alugoro (407), RI Tjundamani (408), RI Widjajadanu (409), RI Pasopati (410), RI Hendradjala (411), and RI Bramastra (412). In addition to the 12 submarines, two special submarines for personnel training were also purchased.

The Whiskey submarine (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

The specifications of the Whiskey submarine are no less interesting. This submarine has a length of 76.6 meters, a width of 6.3 meters, a speed of 18.3 knots (above water), and 13.5 knots (underwater). It has a full weight of 1,300 tons and an empty weight of 1,050 tons, a cruising range of 8,500 nautical miles, with diesel fuel and 224 batteries.

The Whiskey Submarine is manned by 63 people. complete with 12 steam torpedo weaponry with a length of 7 meters, has 6 torpedo launchers or petors (4 in the bow, 2 at the stern), 4 torpedoes in front are filled with ordinary conventional topedo while 2 stern petors are filled with SAET-50 Therefore, it is the presence of the SAET-50 Torpedo that can make opponents discourage opponents. Because this weapon became one of the most sophisticated torpedoes of its time.

The weapon was predicted to further shrink the guts of the Dutch, known for their stony heads. Quoted from G. Moedjanto in the book Indonesia 20th Century Volume 2 (1988), this Dutch attitude caused Indonesia to prepare large-scale operations both by sea - including moving 12 submarines - and by air. The operation was known as the Jayawijaya operation. August 14, 1962 was designated as the day of the invasion.

“Ideally, Indonesia has more than 10 submarines that can conduct surveillance and early detection patrols in their own yards to neighboring yards. In the 1960s era (Trikora West Irian operation) Indonesia had 12 whiskey-class submarines created by the Soviet Union (Russia) which were classified as sophisticated at that time, making Indonesia the champion with the most powerful and strongest underwater combat fleet in the southern hemisphere. diplomacy and leaving West Irian after being warned by the US about the silent strength of the Indonesian Navy at that time, "concluded Haryanto Kadir in the book Dinamika Nasional Nasional (2017).

* Read other information about HISTORY or read other interesting writings from Detha Arya Tifada.

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