Often the saying "If you want to learn something new, read an old book" is proven true. To that end I've been scrolling through an Indonesian language Weapons Technology website that contains an interesting 2011 article. That article consists of snippets of various Indonesian submarine commanders' memories of their service, 1959 to 2009.
I first visited the 2011 article in 2015 writing about it then.
I revisited it today because it contains rare details of an Indonesian submarine voyage down the Western Australian coast. That brought the sub to the approaches of Australia's second largest naval base which was/is eventually called Fleet Base West situated in the Rockingham-Fremantle area just below Perth, Western Australia. The broader base area was heavily used by many US and some UK Royal Navy submarines during World War Two - subs that sank a great deal of Japanese shipping.
The snippet below concerns Indonesian submarine KRI Nagabanda's reconnaissance mission down the western Australian coast to the approaches to Australia's second largest naval base (after Sydney Harbour). At that time, 1963-64, there was tension between Indonesia and Australia, who were fighting in a small, quiet, war in Malaysia. If things had become more serious Australian shipping might have been at risk from (at that time Indonesia's) substantial force of 12 Whiskey-Tjakra class submarines.
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THE INDONESIAN ARTICLE
I first visited the 2011 article in 2015 writing about it then.
I revisited it today because it contains rare details of an Indonesian submarine voyage down the Western Australian coast. That brought the sub to the approaches of Australia's second largest naval base which was/is eventually called Fleet Base West situated in the Rockingham-Fremantle area just below Perth, Western Australia. The broader base area was heavily used by many US and some UK Royal Navy submarines during World War Two - subs that sank a great deal of Japanese shipping.
The snippet below concerns Indonesian submarine KRI Nagabanda's reconnaissance mission down the western Australian coast to the approaches to Australia's second largest naval base (after Sydney Harbour). At that time, 1963-64, there was tension between Indonesia and Australia, who were fighting in a small, quiet, war in Malaysia. If things had become more serious Australian shipping might have been at risk from (at that time Indonesia's) substantial force of 12 Whiskey-Tjakra class submarines.
(Photo courtesy the Indonesian 2011 article).
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THE INDONESIAN ARTICLE
That article is a collection of original stories told by the commanders involved with the title (translated into English) 50 years of Devotion to the “Shark” [Submarine] Service 1959-2009.
"WASTE WASTE IN AUSTRALIA
This story took place in 1963-1964,when I [an unnamed Indonesian Commander] had passed the submarine commander's school and waited for placement. At that time, there was still an incessant confrontation with Malaysia.
Finally I was appointed as commander of KRI Nagabanda. [A Whiskey-Tjakra class submarine delivered by the Soviets to Indonesia in January 1962].
Some submarines at that time were assigned to carry out reconnaissance in the southern Chinese sea, while KRI Nagabanda was assigned to eastern Indonesia. All Indonesian vessels were under the control of the Commander of the Alert Fleet Command, Commodore RP Poernomo.
Finally I was appointed as commander of KRI Nagabanda. [A Whiskey-Tjakra class submarine delivered by the Soviets to Indonesia in January 1962].
Some submarines at that time were assigned to carry out reconnaissance in the southern Chinese sea, while KRI Nagabanda was assigned to eastern Indonesia. All Indonesian vessels were under the control of the Commander of the Alert Fleet Command, Commodore RP Poernomo.
At that time there have been tensions with Malaysia which was becoming independent from the UK. [Indonesia was in confrontation with] Malaysia and Singapore and other British Commonwealth forces, including Australia. Is was almost certain that Australia was interfering [which it very quietly was], therefore Indonesian Naval Command decided my sub should conduct a surveillance of Australian waters.
The [KRI Nagabanda] left [Indonesia's main submarine base] Surabaya [on the main island of Java, Indonesia] for Kupang [an Indonesian provincial center and small forward naval base on Indonesian West Timor]. Arriving in Timor, KRI Nagabanda anchored in the port and took on fresh food. It then raised anchor and sailed south. During the day we snorkelled [using the diesel engines to charge our] batteries. At night we sailed on the surface. We made sure to stay more than 50 miles away from the Australian coast [outside Australia's territorial waters].
After sailing roughly to the west of the city of Perth [and Australia's second largest naval base], the air inside our sub became really cold, not the usual [tropical heat-warm water we're used to]. We had not come equipped with warm clothes when we left Surabaya. So I decided to turn around to the north, back to Kupang. [West Timor. Also the submarine's limited diesel fuel/range and likely orders to go down close Australia's second largest naval base may have been significant].
On the way to Kupang, my administrative officer, Lieutenant Ali Kamal, suggested "Commander, to mark KRI Nagabanda being in the waters west of Australia, we should dispose of the garbage here."
I agreed with this noble proposal, and so ordered that used food cans, especially those made in Indonesia, and other waste, should be thrown into the sea.
In carrying out this task, KRI Nagabanda managed to enter the waters of western Australia without being noticed by Australian ships."
PETE COMMENT
"without being noticed by Australian ships." may have been wishful thinking. I'll raise that issue tomorrow.
Pete
PETE COMMENT
"without being noticed by Australian ships." may have been wishful thinking. I'll raise that issue tomorrow.
Pete