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Missing Indonesian Submarine Was Old, Overloaded, Analyst Says

  • 53 people were onboard submarine that was designed for 40
  • Rescuers race against time with oxygen supply nearly depleted

The submarine KRI Nanggala-402 in 2017. 

Photographer: Zulkarnain/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

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The Indonesian navy’s missing submarine may have been too old and overloaded when it embarked on a military exercise on Wednesday, according to a defense analyst.

The KRI Nanggala-402 that disappeared in waters off Bali island was carrying 53 crew during training, Indonesia’s defense ministry said. A submarine of that class has a maximum capacity of 40, according to Ridzwan Rahmat, principle defense analyst at Janes.