21 KRI Deployed To Find Nanggala-402 In Bali Waters

Documentation of KRI Nanggala-402 in the waters of the Indah Kiat Pier, Cilegon, Banten, 2017. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The search for the missing submarine KRI Nanggala-402 in northern Bali continues. Currently, there are dozens of ships that have been deployed to search for ships and rescue 53 crew members on the submarine.

"Regarding the KRI that was deployed in the search process, 21 were delivered including KRI Alugoro," said the Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Maj. Gen. Achmad Riad in a press conference held at the Base Ops Lanud I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Denpasar, Bali, Friday, April 23. .

"So the total number I submit is 21 KRI if there is an addition. What is clear, currently 21 KRI including KRI Alugoro submarines too," he added.

In addition, the police ship also conducted the search. Achmad said there were four ships assisted in the mission, namely the Gelatik Ship, the Enggang Ship, the West Ship, and the Balang Ship.

"The ships are equipped with an ROV or drone unit and include two-dimensional sonar capabilities," he explained.

Meanwhile, aid ships from other countries are also on their way. Including the ship from Singapore, namely the MV Swift Rescue which is expected to arrive in the afternoon or evening.

"Then megabakti is on the way, then there is from Ballarat from Australia, then HMS Sirius from Australia, and one ship from India and we hope that the Poseidon plane will be able to dock soon," said Achmad.

Previously reported, KRI Nanggala-402 previously requested permission to dive in Bali waters at 03.00 WITA, Wednesday, April 21.

The plan, this submarine will carry out firing for a training rehearsal. However, the KRI Nanggala-402, which brought these 53 people, then lost contact.

The search was carried out using active sonar in the vicinity of the KRI Nanggala-402 dive. But to no avail. Meanwhile, at 07.00 WITA, the search was carried out by air. An oil spill was seen at the location of the KRI Nanggala-402 diving.

The Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono confirmed that the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine that was lost in Bali waters was fit for use even though it was old. Moreover, this submarine has received an eligibility letter from the Navy's Materiel Feasibility Service.

"The Nanggala-402 submarine is ready, both personnel and material. The personnel are complete, the material has already received the Dislaikmatal eligibility letter," Yudo said in a press conference broadcast on YouTube Puspen TNI, Thursday, April 22.

He said that this ship was built in Germany in 1977 and received by the Indonesian Navy in 1981. So far, the Nanggala-402 has a history of firing 15 torpedo head exercises and twice firing the war head torpedoes.

"So the KRI Nanggala is ready for combat, so we send it, we involve it to fire the torpedo of the head of training and the head of war," he said.

Meanwhile, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said the eligibility letter issued by Dislaikmatal was still valid until March 25, 2022.

"It is still feasible to carry out operational activities," he said.