Cakra-class submarine

Cakra-class were ordered on 2 April 1977, designed by Ingenieurkontor, Lübeck for construction by Howaldtswerke, Kiel and sale by Ferrostaal, Essen-all acting as a consortium.[1] Both ships were laid down on 25 November 1977 and March 1978, respectively. They were completed on 18 March 1981 and 6 July 1981. There were plans to build two more boats of the same class but eventually nothing came out of it.[2]

On 25 September 1997, two ex-German Type 206 submarines were taken over with plans to refit them, followed by three others. Funds run out in June 1998 and the whole project was then cancelled. New plans to acquire submarine from South Korea were announced in October 2003. Then it all revealed that the intended procurement was an Improved Jang Bogo-class submarine which now were already in service as Nagapasa class.[1]

The Cakra-class have high capacity batteries with GRP lead-acid cells and battery cooling supplied by Wilhelm Hagen AG.[1]

In the 1999-2000 period, the relationship between Indonesia and Australia was reaching its highest tension due to Australian interference in the opinion polls which was held in East Timor. And one of the interesting story is that one of the transport ships that also served as a command ship for Australian Navy , HMAS Kanimbla, was in fact almost become a target of torpedo strike which would be launch from a Cakra-Class submarine.[3]

It was reported that when a Cakra-Class submarines was conducting a routine patrol duties in the Timor Sea, suddenly her sonar detected several unidentified surface ships moving towards Dili. As a follow-up, the submarine's commander slowly directed the ship to dive until reaching periscope depth. Later, several unidentified surface ships turned out to be a warship convoy, consists of three ships, an Australian Navy ship's HMAS Kanimbla which was escorted by two New Zealand Navy's frigates. These ships entered the Indonesian territorial waters without permission.[3]

Because it was considered violating the international law, the submarine immediately took action by preparing torpedoes to sink HMAS Kanimbla and her escort vessels. Both New Zealand Navy's frigates were aware of a presence of a sub, but the two frigates were unable to determine the exact position of the submarine. Then the commander of HMAS Kanimbla took quick response by establishing communication with the Australian government regarding the tense situation. After that, Canberra immediately took action by contacting Jakarta to "neutralize" the situation in the Timor Sea and requested permission to entering Indonesian waters and set sail to Dili for these three warships.[3]

After the problems at the top level were resolved, the submarine was ordered not to obstruct the convoy because there was already an official explanation from the Australian to Indonesian government. As ordered, the submarine then surfaced and continue to shadowed the convoy.[3]

Cakra-class undergo major refits at HDW spanning three years from 1986 to 1989, these refits were expensive and lengthy and may have discouraged further orders at that time. Cakra (401) refitted again at Surabaya from 1993 completing in April 1997, including replacement batteries and updated Sinbad TFCS. Nanggala (402) received a similar refit from October 1997 to mid-1999.[1]

Cakra began a refit again at Daewoo Shipyard, South Korea in 2004, which was completed in 2005. Work is reported to have included new batteries, overhaul of engines and modernisation of the combat system. A similar refit of Nanggala was completed in April 2006.[1]

• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710628886.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.

List of active Indonesian Navy ships

Equipment of the Indonesian Navy