Sunken Missing Indonesian Submarine Found Cracked Open By Rescuers
(This was originally posted in Reuters)
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A missing Indonesian submarine has been found sunk 850 meters below sea level and cracked into at least three parts, army and navy officials said on Sunday.
Rescuers found new objects, including a life vest, they believe belong to the 53 crew of the 44-year old KRI Nanggala-402, which lost contact on Wednesday as it prepared to conduct a torpedo drill. Officials told reporters they have confirmed the crew is dead.
ABOUT KRI Nanngala SUBMARINE
KRI Nanggala (402), also known as Nanggala II, was one of two Cakra-class Type 209/1300 diesel-electric attack submarines of the Indonesian Navy. Ordered in 1977, it was launched in 1980 and commissioned in 1981. The submarine conducted intelligence-gathering operations in the Indian Ocean and around East Timor and North Kalimantan. It was a participant in the international Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training naval exercise and conducted a passing exercise with USS Oklahoma City. The vessel underwent a major refit in 2012.
Nanggala was declared missing on 21 April 2021, hours after losing contact with surface personnel while it was underwater. It was in the middle of a torpedo drill in waters north of Bali and had fired a live SUT torpedo before it went missing. The navy estimated that the submarine’s oxygen supply would last for about three days, and multiple domestic and international vessels were sent to search for Nanggala.
