Maintenance Is The Key, Ex-Kabais: Submarine If It's Lost Contact Is Hard To Find

KRI Nanggala-402/Antara

JAKARTA - Former Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (Kabais) TNI Laksda (Purn) Soleman Ponto said the submarine was formed to operate quietly under the sea.

Therefore, the maintenance of submarines must be paid close attention. So, when used in prime condition. Because if not, the impact will be very fatal.

"This submarine must also be in prime condition or situation every time it wants to dive. That is absolute, we cannot play games. If a ship is playing around, it floats. But submarines as soon as it dives, "He lost contact and was confused about where to look because he was designed to disappear," he said in a virtual discussion, Sunday, April 25.

Therefore, said Ponto, these factors make the KRI Nanggala-402 which was declared missing from Wednesday, April 21 to Sunday April 25, difficult to find.

"So to find him when he's lost is not difficult to play," he said.

According to Ponto, when the ship started diving, no further reports would be submitted. Detection of the presence of the ship's position was also omitted. Reports are only submitted at certain hours.

"(Submarines) report themselves again, usually when in the Navy (AL) it is at eight in the morning and at eight in the evening it reports," he explained.

Meanwhile, said Ponto, when it is used for training, the time to report the ship's position must also be agreed in advance.

On the same occasion, military observer Connie Rahakundini Bakrie also conveyed the difficulty of rescuing submarine crews when they have an underwater accident. The main factor is the depth of the sea.

"Even if it can be helped, it's very difficult. The crew pick-up boat is not easy to deal with the current. Moreover, there is a risk of currents being helped," said Connie.

As is known, the German-made submarine was about to conduct a war head torpedo firing exercise, on Wednesday, April 21. However, the KRI Naggala-402 ship was declared missing contact from Wednesday, April 21 to Sunday, April 25, and has not been found.

Based on his statement, the KRI Nanggala-402 is estimated to have disappeared in waters about 60 miles or about 95 kilometers from the north of Bali Island, at around 03.00 local time. This submarine carries 53 people consisting of 49 crew members, a unit commander, and three weapons personnel.

Currently, the subsunk (drowning) signal for KRI Nanggala-402 is declared after searching for 72 hours.