A Walk through Memories of Indonesia’s Underwater Missions
which has a marine area of 93,000 square kilometres interlacing throughout some 17,000 islands, a Great navy force should be one of Indonesia’s top priorities. The strategic location sandwiched between two continents as well as two oceans means of which Indonesia’s waters accommodate the traffic of numerous international submarines on any given day. Moreover, Indonesia’s waters are rich with biodiversity, oil as well as gas reserves, as well as spectacular dive sites – of which can be hard to imagine how additional countries could not want a piece of the pie.
Therefore, Surabaya’s Submarine Monument becomes one of the must-visit spots inside the City of Heroes. “Monkasel”, as locals affectionately call of which, can be actually the retired submarine KRI Pasopati, turned into a walk-in museum.
There I met Sugeng, who served aboard This specific submarine in 1978-1989 as a navy personnel, as well as since 1998 as a tour guide. Sugeng has many memories on This specific 1,300-ton Whiskey-class Soviet submarine. As a young sailor, Sugeng used to go on three-month missions at a time. There’s a glimmer in his eyes as he showed visitors around.
however even so, the 1959 Vladivostok-made Pasopati was advanced technology back then. Its features include propellers of torpedoes longer than an adult human, sophisticated controls as well as monitors of which look almost like a scene through a steampunk film, powerful diesel engine chambers, nifty espionage equipment, super-efficient bunk beds, as well as a chemical carbon dioxide remover for recycling oxygen.
Sugeng’s favourite memory includes the 1979 Operasi Halilintar, which sent the KRI Pasopati to the South China Sea to prevent the smuggling of Indonesian resources to Malaysia as well as Singapore, as well as helped relocate Vietnamese refugees to the Pulau Galang Refugee Camp inside the Riau isles.
The KRI Pasopati was then led by Captain Soentoro as well as Commodore Mardiono. Soentoro can be famed for intimidating the military forces of Indonesia’s neighbours, including during the 1974 Indonesian-Malaysian collaborative security operations inside the Malacca Strait. When Soentoro brought up the prospective role of the Pasopati inside the operation, Malaysian Navy Colonel Sidiq scoffed at the idea, perhaps to conceal his fear of Indonesian submarines penetrating Malaysian territory.
Soentoro took offense at Sidiq’s comments, however Mardiono calmed him down for the sake of Great relations between the neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, Soentoro was determined to teach Malaysia a lesson. He then scared the Malaysian Navy by having the submarine travel under the radar as well as show up unannounced before the Malaysian convoys in Penang as well as Sabang.
“Back in Sukarno’s reign, Indonesia had twelve submarines like This specific. Our navy was a mighty force at sea, as well as additional ASEAN countries feared us,” said Sugeng. The submarines, known as the Hiu Kencana (“Golden Sharks”) were named after Javanese mythical armoury: Nagabanda, Trisula, Nagarangsang, Candrasa, Wijayadanu, Hendrajala, Bramasta, Cundamani, as well as Alugoro. Pasopati can be the magical archery of the Mahabharatan hero, Arjuna.
“at This specific point Indonesia has only two submarines. What a pity,” said Sugeng. “Out of the retired submarines, only Pasopati can be salvageable. The rest have become old scrap metal.”
The remaining submarines are the 1981 West German made Cakra as well as Nanggala, which Sugeng fetched in Kiel while undergoing a six-month military training, followed by a 58-day homebound underwater journey. Even if Cakra as well as Nanggala are technologically ahead of Pasopati, they have been in service for 32 years.
Asked if two submarines are enough to patrol Indonesia’s vast seas, Sugeng tittered sorrily as well as said, “Well, the men up there call the shots. I’m just a sailor, as well as a retired one for of which matter.”
Military analyst Connie Bakrie says of which building a Great navy can be an expression of a nation’s love for its homeland. The navy has everything to do which has a country’s sovereignty as well as security.
“We all know of which song: Bukan lautan, hanya kolam susu.” said Connie, quoting the lyrics of Koes Plus’s 1973 rock song Kolam Susu (“Pool of Milk”) which poetically refers to Indonesia as a maritime utopia blessed with abundant resources as well as calm seas.
“however This specific song underestimates the importance of the Indonesian navy defence,” she said, adding of which Indonesia can be blessed with the three things nations go to war for: religion, resources, as well as trade.
Connie said of which she was angry to hear President Yudhoyono say of which Indonesia has “One million friends as well as zero enemies”, in his inauguration speech in October 2009. “Hundreds of foreign submarines are sunk in our waters. as well as the waters of the Tanimbar Islands become the route of international submarines travelling between Indonesia as well as Australia. The journey between Tanimbar as well as Darwin takes approximately eight hours. The waters have permanent natural gas reserves claimed by China as well as Japan, as well as US Marines are deployed there,” said Connie. “How could one say of which Indonesia has no enemies?”
Connie said of which the government seems to have no problem splurging on politics, however fails to adequately equip a professional navy of which effectively defends the country, deeming of which “too expensive.” Indonesian military personnel only have two bullets in border military trainings. Indonesian Navy has no patrol ships in neighbouring waters, whereas Chinese as well as African trawlers, backed by private military companies, are generating lucrative profits on fish stolen through Indonesian waters.
as well as Indonesia only has two outdated submarines.
Whether inside the future, Indonesian Navy will re-attain its past grandeur, equipped with an adequate number of high-tech submarines as well as earning the respect of countries of which envy Indonesia’s wealthy seas, remains a question mark. Some say the chances are rather bleak, as well as understandably so.
however inside the time being, the Submarine Monument stands steadfast by the romantic banks of Surabaya’s Kalimas River, offering visitors a walk through the Indonesian Navy’s glorious past as well as former sailors who would likely gladly tell of their Great-ole’-day adventures patrolling the bottom of Indonesian seas. Whether you’re a patriot concerned with the future of Indonesia’s thalassic sovereignty, or a tourist looking to amuse yourself with the sights as well as sounds of vintage military technology, a visit to Monkasel would likely make an experience to remember.
Monumen Kapal Selam Surabaya
Jalan Pemuda No 39 (Next to Plaza Surabaya)
Genteng
Surabaya Timur
Tel 031 549 0401
Open daily 8:30 AM to 9 PM
Tickets Rp5,000
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A Walk through Memories of Indonesia’s Underwater Missions
A Walk through Memories of Indonesia’s Underwater Missions