Indonesia, US navies honor USS Houston in joint dive
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Navy and the US Navy conducted a joint dive at the wreck of USS Houston in the Sunda Strait on Thursday (Nov 4) to commemorate the ship's sinking and strengthening military ties.
The event, coordinated by Rear Adm. Yayan Sofiyan as the Indonesian Navy's assistant for operations, aimed to honor maritime history and strengthen diplomatic ties with the United States.
"The USS Houston dive is part of historical diplomacy between the Indonesian and US navies," Sofiyan said in an official statement.
The dive was also part of the 2026 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise involving Indonesian and US naval and marine personnel, said Frogman Command deputy chief Agus Yudho Kristianto.
Personnel came from the Navy's history service, Frogman Command, underwater diving and rescue unit, and Banten Naval Base, Kristianto said.
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The event began with an opening ceremony at Bandar Bakau Jaya Port in Banten, where the joint team departed for the wreck site in the Sunda Strait.
At the site, Indonesian and US Navy personnel descended to a depth of 16 meters to reach the deck of the USS Houston wreck. They carried a plaque, the two countries' flags and a wreath to the site.
On the deck, they placed the items on a platform prepared in advance. After placing the items and paying their respects, the US Navy divers returned to the surface.
The Indonesian divers then descended to a depth of 40 meters and placed the plaque, wreath and flags on the seabed beside the wreck. US Marine Corps Attaché to Indonesia Lt. Col. Tyler Bahn welcomed the joint dive, the statement said.
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Bahn thanked the Indonesian Navy for helping protect the historic site.
"This is a years-long effort with our Indonesian partners to raise awareness of and protect the final resting place of US war dead and the ship, an important reminder of our past. We thank Indonesia, as our host, for its cooperation in organizing this event," he said.
Bahn hoped the dive would help the two navies build lasting defense cooperation.
The USS Houston sank during the Battle of the Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942. The US warship went down after fighting Japanese forces that were landing troops in Banten Bay.
The wreck is now a protected underwater heritage site under bilateral cooperation between the Indonesian and US governments.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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