The Hunt for Missing Nuclear Weapons

A story from the 1960’s about the search for missing nuclear weapons has recently been confirmed by the CIA.

Back in 1968, a Russian submarine left Russia and sailed into the Pacific Ocean on a peaceful patrol mission. On board were three ballistic weapons with nuclear capability. Not long after it began its journey the sub went missing. The Russians tried to locate the sub but eventually gave up, and then the United States found it 16,500 feet down in the ocean, over a thousand miles from Hawaii.

The CIA led the attempt to recover the sub in a covert mission. Agents decided to use the cover of a mining ship, which was supposed to be used for research in the very depths of the ocean. However, the ship was actually equipped with everything it would need to raise the submarine from the ocean floor with the special equipment hidden underneath the vessel to prevent prying eyes from another ship, spy plane or satellite from seeing it.

There was no question that the whole operation was risky, as due to the currents and the depth it would be very difficult to actually get hold of a whole submarine with the special equipment, let alone bring it underneath the mining ship and secure it. However CIA specialists came up with a solution involving a metal grabbing device and winches specially made for the task and the ship set sail from California in July, 1974.

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Although constantly under the watchful eyes of the Soviets, who were obviously wondering what they were doing, the CIA tried to lift the submarine, but as they were trying to haul it up from the depths, part of it broke off and fell back down to the ocean floor. However, they did manage to secure the remaining part of the sub and inside they found the bodies of six crewmembers, which they buried with full honors at sea. They filmed the ceremony, which was apparently later presented to the Russian government in 1992.

So what happened to the missiles? Well, so far, the CIA has not released information about them.

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