With a sea area of 93,000 square kilometers interlacing 17,000 all islands, should force a top of Indonesia's priorities a good Marine. The strategic location between two continents and two oceans means that Indonesia waters to accommodate the traffic of numerous international submarines on a given day. Moreover, in Indonesia waters are rich in biodiversity, oil and gas reserves and spectacular dive sites -. It is difficult to see how other countries do not want a piece of the pie could
Therefore Surabaya Submarine Monument is one of the must-visit places in the City of Heroes. "Monkasel" as the locals call it lovingly, is actually the retired submarine KRI Pasopati, turned into a walk in the museum.
There I met Sugeng who served aboard this submarine as Navy personnel in 1978-1989 and since 1998 as a guide. Sugeng has many memories of this 1300-ton Whiskey class Soviet submarine. As a young sailor, Sugeng used at a time, to go on three-month mission. There is a gleam in his eyes as he showed visitors around.
Even so, the 1959 Vladivostok made Pasopati was advanced technology back then. Its features include propeller torpedo longer than an adult human, sophisticated controls and monitors that look almost like a scene from a steampunk movie, powerful diesel engine chambers and sophisticated espionage equipment, super efficient bunk beds, and a chemical carbon dioxide remover for recycling oxygen.
Sugeng favorite memory contains the 1979 Operasi Halilintar that the KRI Pasopati sent to the South China Sea to prevent the smuggling of Indonesian resources to Malaysia and Singapore, and helped Vietnamese refugees to Pulau Galang refugee camp shift in the Riau Archipelago.
The KRI Pasopati was then led by Captain Soentoro and Commodore Mardiono. Soentoro known to intimidate the military forces of the Indonesian neighbors, during the 1974 collaborative Indonesian Malaysian security operations in the Straits of Malacca, including. When placed in operation Soentoro spotted the future loss of Pasopati up, Malaysian Navy Colonel Sidiq the idea, perhaps his fear of the Indonesian submarines to hide Malaysian penetrate territory.
Soentoro took offense at comments Sidiq but Mardiono reassured him between neighboring countries in the interests of good relations down. Nevertheless Soentoro was to give Malaysia a lesson intended. He started then the Malaysian Navy has the submarine trip under the radar and unannounced show in front of the Malaysian convoy in Penang and Sabang.
"Back in Sukarno reign, Indonesia had twelve submarines as this. Our navy was a powerful force at sea, and other ASEAN countries fear us," Sugeng said. Nagabanda, Trisula, Nagarangsang, Candrasa, Wijayadanu, Hendrajala, Bramasta, Cundamani and Alugoro: Submarines how Hiu Kencana ( "Golden sharks") were known named mythical armory by Javanese. Pasopati is the magic of archery Mahabharatan hero Arjuna.
"Now Indonesia has only two submarines. What a pity," Sugeng said. "Salvageable from the retired submarines, is only Pasopati. The rest have become old scrap."
The remaining submarines have made the 1981 West German Cakra and Nanggala that Sugeng brought in Kiel, during a six-month undergo military training, followed by a 58-day Homebound underwater travel. Even if Cakra and Nanggala technologically advance Pasopati are, they have for 32 years in use.
whether two submarines enough are Indonesia to patrol the world's oceans, Sugeng sorrily chuckled and said. "Well, the men up there call the shots I'm just a sailor, and a retired one for this matter. "
Military analyst Connie Bakrie says that a good Marine build, is an expression of love of a nation for his home. The Navy has everything to do with a country's sovereignty and security
"We all know the song. Bukan lautan, hanya kolam susu". Said Connie, quotes the texts of Koes plus the 1973 Rock- song Kolam Susu ( "pool of Milk"), the poetic to Indonesia refers as maritime utopia blessed with abundant resources and the calm sea.
"But this song, the importance of the Indonesian Navy underestimated defense," she said, adding that Indonesia is blessed with three things go nations to war. Religion, resources and trade
Connie said that she was to hear President Yudhoyono angry that Indonesia "One million friends and zero enemies", in his inaugural speech has in October 09 "hundreds of foreign submarines in our waters sunk. and the water of Tanimbar Islands are the way of international submarines between Indonesia and Australia travel. the trip between Tanimbarese and Darwin takes about eight hours. the waters have permanent gas reserves claimed by China and Japan and the US Marines are deployed there, "Connie said. "How can you say that Indonesia has no enemies?"
Connie said that the government splurging no problem seems to have on the policy, but not sufficient to equip a professional navy that effectively defends the country, assuming it "too expensive." Indonesian military personnel have only two balls in the border military training. Indonesian Navy has stolen no patrol vessels in adjacent waters, while Chinese and African trawler, supported by private military companies making lucrative profits on fish from Indonesian waters.
and Indonesia has only two outdated submarines.
Whether is to reach Indonesian Navy its past splendor, equipped with a sufficient number of high-tech submarines and the respect of the countries in the future, that envy Indonesia's rich seas, earning remains a question mark. Some say the chances are rather bleak, and this is understandable.
But to be in time, the submarine memorial stands steadfastly by the romantic shores of Surabaya Kalimas river, visitors stroll through the Indonesian Navy glorious past offer and former sailors who like their good ole ' day adventure patrol would tell the underside of the Indonesian seas. Whether you are a patriot concerned with the future of the Indonesian thalassic sovereignty, or a tourist looking to have fun with the sights and sounds of vintage military technology, a visit Monkasel would 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 to 21:00
tickets Rp5,000
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