Can a submarine be perished by internal waves?

Abstract

The recent tragedy of the Nanggala submarine that occurred off the coast of Bali, once again reminds of the possible role of internal waves in such tragedies. The article briefly outlines the nature of internal waves and analyzes the circumstances of the losses of three submarines - the atomic submarines Thresher (1963) and Scorpion (1968) of the US Navy and the diesel Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala (2021). The hypothetical scenarios of the accidents are discussed. The danger of internal waves for underwater navigation is reasoned