A Sunken Submarine Sparks an Ambitious Plan
In 1968, the Soviet submarine K-129 mysteriously sank 16,500 feet below the Pacific. The U.S., eager to access its nuclear secrets, launched Project Azorian, a CIA operation to recover the submarine. This unprecedented mission involved designing a 600-foot ship equipped with a giant claw to retrieve the wreckage.
Howard Hughes and a Secret Ship
To hide their intentions, the CIA enlisted billionaire Howard Hughes, claiming the ship, Hughes Glomar Explorer, was built for mining. In 1974, after extensive planning, the ship began lifting the sub under Soviet surveillance. A fabricated cover story ensured secrecy as the operation unfolded.
Success Despite Setbacks
During the lift, part of the submarine broke off and fell back into the ocean, but crucial materials and the remains of Soviet sailors were retrieved. The sailors were given a military burial at sea. Decades later, many details of the operation remain classified.
Secrecy Unveiled
The mission stayed secret for seven years until 1975, when media leaks exposed it. The CIA’s response, “We can neither confirm nor deny,” coined the “Glomar response.” Project Azorian is remembered for its audacity and innovation, even amidst Cold War tensions.
In 1968, the Soviet submarine K-129 sank 16,500 feet below the Pacific, carrying nuclear secrets. The CIA launched Project Azorian, an audacious mission to recover it using a 600-foot ship equipped with a giant claw—an operation cloaked in secrecy and daring ambition. 🧵1/4👇 pic.twitter.com/l5PJdxBFiJ
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) January 1, 2025