The plan to counter the Dutch carrier was not rest solely on Tu-16. However combination of assets. TU-16 was planed to be launch from it’s home-based on Java (at that time only one or two Air Base in Java that actually capable handling Tu-16), and then will have rendezvous with Mig-17 as escorts which already being put on forward AB in Moratai (ex US WW-2 AB during Mc Arthur Island Hoping campaign).

This being hoped to lured Karel Dorman Sea Hawk to meet them, while in the sea the main plan which was Indonesian Navy battle group lead by fast cruiser KRI Irian (ex USSR Ordzonikidze of Sverdlov class) with Skory class destroyers as escorts will moved to meet Karel Dorman with her destroyers escorts. While at the same time Whiskey class submarines which already stationed on Moluccas water, will moved to guard the perimeter.

The whole strategy adopted based on USSR battle plan on engaging US carrier battle group. Will it work ? well it’s open to speculations since it’s basically similar on speculating whether USSR strategy on engaging US battle group on open water will work or not.

Afterall rumors says about a third of KRI Irian crew and Half of Indonesian Whiskeys class submarines crew were Russian, since Indonesia did not have enough time to train the crews for manning the entire new Naval vessels from USSR in that time.

Below is some of surviving KRI Irian pictures that already circulating on line. Look at the picture of the gun deck which show the Sailors featuring Indonesian/Southeast Asian faces while the officer in front of the gun clearly Caucasians.

Add: Indonesian Navy at that time also equipped with maritime variants of IL-28 torpedo bombers. This from what I’ve gather plan as back up if TU-16 plan drooped due to long range operation radius that they have to operated from Java to Papua. Unlike Tu-16, Morotai as forward AB can handle IL-28, so like Mig-17 they already stationed there. It’s being calculated that if TU-16 being used to attack Karel Dorman carrier group on Papuan waters, it will stretch their endurance to the limit. On paper they can do it, but only just.