Hadi planned to hold a media briefing on Thursday in Bali regarding the missing submarine, a military spokesman told Reuters news service. Indonesian National Armed Forces chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Navy Chief of Staff Adm. The submarine was in Bali waters to prepare for a war exercise scheduled for Thursday. The Nanggala-402 was built by German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in 1979. The diesel-powered submarine can dive for three months at a maximum depth of 500 meters (1,640 feet), is armed with 14 torpedoes and has a firing range of up to 2 miles (3.2 km), according to the Indonesian military. Last year, the Indonesian military said it had five submarines, including two built by South Korea’s Daewoo – while noting only three were operational.

The military also reached out to Singapore and Australia, which have rescue vessels, to assist in the search, officials said, adding that navies from those countries and others, including India, have offered to assist. In addition to the helicopter, the military deployed several ships equipped with sonar technology to locate the submarine. The oil spill may have resulted from possible damage to the sub’s fuel tank caused by water pressure, Julius said. Late Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said that a helicopter conducting surveillance of the area where the submarine was last seen had reported an oil slick in the water. “The result of a temporary analysis shows that there is a possibility of an electrical failure resulting in the crew losing control of it and not being able to carry out emergency procedures,” Julius said. The Associated Press reported the submarine was carrying a crew of 49 along with its commander and three gunners. “At least 53 crew members were in the submarine.” “The submarine was about to simulate a torpedo attack, but it failed to report back and we lost contact,” Julius told BenarNews. after being cleared to dive, Navy spokesman Julius Widjojono said, adding that an electrical failure could have caused the crew to lose control. The German-made KRI Nanggala-402 disappeared about 95 km (59 miles) north of the island at about 3 a.m. The Indonesian military is searching for a Navy submarine carrying a crew of 53 that went missing during an exercise off Bali on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Missing indonesian navy submarine