The second world war has kept a variety of human suffering stories in different parts of the world. Lombok’s squad also became the witness of the battle between the United States with Japan, when the USAT Liberty United States’s freight ship was shot two pedo by the Japanese hawker sunrise on January 11, 1942.
The USAT Liberty ship experiencing damages is pulled towards the harbor in Singaraja which is currently the administrative center of the small Sunda aquatic region. However due to severe damage conditions and full boat hulls filled in water, the ship can only reach Tulamben Village, precisely 75km from Singaraja at the east end of Bali Island.
In the village, the end of the ship made in 1918 was leaned and carried out loading and unloading before the Japanese army came. In the end of the cold lahar of the Great mountain eruption exhalates it to the ocean about 40 meters from the beach and the froth in the depth of 10-30 meters in 1963.
Naval Historical Diver Dijarahal Letkol Laut (P) Yudo Ponco (left) with members of Naval Historical Diver (NHD) from the TNI AL Historical Department conducts dive preparation.
The dive monitors the USAT Liberty ships in the sea waters of Tulamben.
Behind the history, the ship’s carcass are now the tourist attraction that also gives inspiration to strengthen Indonesian relations with the United States. The Navy TNI along the United States Embassy to Indonesia held joint activities with the installation of arches, the ibration of the second flags of the country and the laying of flower corals under the sea at the location of the USAT Liberty ship.
The Head of the TNI History of the Navy (Disjarahal) Laksamana First TNI Hariyo Poernomo said, the activity is one of the TNI AL principal tasks in the diplomacy sector, so it can strengthen friendship and commitment with both countries in conserving historical heritage as well as the underwater ecosystem that now grows fertile around the USAT Liberty boat.
On April 12th, 2025 motorized activities were supported by the dive of the Naval Historical Diver (NHD) dive from the United States Embassy and local communities. Under the leadership of Dansatgas Colonel Laut (PM) Juang Pawana’s activities began to score a 300 kilograms vocabulary, a survey of installation locations as well as exercises that were sufficiently drained by power because they had to dive repeatedly.
The number of members of the Naval Historical Diver (NHD) of the TNI History Department of dive to perform observations for the ceremonies location as well as the installation of the prestige, the ibration of the White Red Flag and the United States flag in the USAT Liberty caram boat area.
Knop USAT Liberty caram boat door in Tulamben sea water.
In addition, there is also a custom ceremony and prayer along with the involvement of the Indonesian TNI personnel, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as representatives of the United States Ambassador for Indonesia, indigenous trimmings and Tulamben village communities.
At the peak of his implementation, the event was guarded by the breeding of the bouquets of the United States Ambassador for Indonesia Heather Merrit to the Dive Duty Officer or the diversification officer of the Marine Letkol (P) Ponco Yudo, to be laid in the USAT Liberty precess.
When the diver begins, the Sea Lettu (PM) R.Farras Kurniawan and Captain USMC Josh Cambers brought the flag, the representative of the NHD Supjarahal Edwin Hadi Muljono and the United States Army Land Defense Uppere Staff CW2 Curtis brought the plaque, as well as five soldiers of the members of the Lanal Bali, Kopaska, dilambair, the Pecalang slowly began to fall towards the location point at the depth of 10 meters.
The implementation of the Naval Historical Diver Dijarahal Letkol Laut (P) Yudo Ponco (left) conducts underwater communication with the Visual Underwater Naval Historical Diver (NHD) of the TNI History Department of AL Benyamin Gunawan (right) stipulates the implementation point of activities in the USAT Liberty caram area.
The implementation of the Naval Historical Diver Dijarahal Letkol Laut (P) Yudo Ponco recorded the inju determines the point of implementation of activities in the USAT Liberty caram area.
In the calm water depth it begins to be carried out. By screening the plakat is installed, the second flag of the country is stamped on its position, the bouquet of the flower is also placed as planned place.
The ceremony is also continued with respect simultaneously in the water as a form of tribute to the history of the past and soldiers in the sea.
The new history began, the activity became a symbol of diplomacy to strengthen Indonesian bilateral relations – the United States so it is expected to create a more harmonious future and mutually appreciated, as well as upholding the lasting peace in accordance with the oldest in the opening of the 1945 Constitution.
The number of members of the Naval Historical Diver (NHD) of the TNI History Department did the dive in the USAT Liberty rafting area.
Prajurit TNI AL with Tulamben villagers brought a prasasti tugu to be placed in the USAT Liberty caram area.
Photo and text : Muhammad Adimaja
Author : Nyoman Budhiana
Anggota Naval Historical Diver (NHD) from TNI AL's History Department along the TNI AL soldiers and the United States Ambassador Representatives to Indonesia install the presastige when the Prescription Installation Ceremony and the Red White Flags and the United States flags in the USAT Liberty mapping area.
White Red Flag Head Sea Lettu (PM) R. Farras Kurniawan (left) along the United States flag carrier Captain USMC Josh Cambers (right) when the Prescription and Red Flag Broadcasting Ceremony White and the United States in the USAT Liberty caram area.
The Implementation of Naval Historical Diver Dijarahal Letkol Laut (P) Yudo Ponco lays the flower corals when the Prescription and Magical Red Flag of White and the United States flag in the USAT Liberty caram area.
White Red Benders and United States flags are attached to the USAT Liberty ship pres in the sea of Tulamben.
The caption is automatically translated by application. Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version.
