Stuff You Should Know Selects: Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub
Jan 15, 2022
In the 1970s, the CIA launched a daring operation to retrieve a sunken Soviet submarine right under the Russian Navy's nose. With the help of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, they navigated immense challenges and secrecy. The mission, known as Project Azorian, involved cutting-edge engineering and intense strategic significance amid Cold War tensions. Alongside the unfolding drama, there are humorous anecdotes about the crew's experiences and insights into the ethical dilemmas tied to espionage. A captivating dive into history's covert waters!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Sinking of K-129
- In 1968, the Soviet submarine K-129 sank in the Pacific.
- This prompted the U.S. to launch Project Azorian, a covert operation to retrieve it.
Engineering Challenges
- Retrieving the K-129 presented numerous engineering challenges, including its depth and weight.
- The CIA consulted a group of engineers to devise a feasible retrieval plan.
Hughes and the Glomar Explorer
- Howard Hughes and his Summa Corporation were chosen by the CIA to build the Glomar Explorer for the mission.
- Hughes' reputation for secrecy and deep-sea mining provided an ideal cover story.