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Lost Nukes of the Cold War (Full Episode) | Drain the Oceans

National Geographic・23 minutes read

Abandoned Cold War killing machines and nuclear weapons lie hidden under the oceans, with advanced technology uncovering these secrets. Various incidents, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, atomic bomb tests, and failed recovery missions, highlight the dangers and mysteries of these underwater relics.

Insights

  • The oceans hold hidden relics of the Cold War, from sunken submarines to nuclear warheads, raising concerns about accidental nuclear disasters and the need for careful retrieval operations.
  • Advanced technology now allows us to uncover these underwater secrets, shedding light on top-secret experiments, nuclear crises, and the devastating impact of atomic bomb tests, highlighting the historical significance and potential dangers lurking beneath the waves.

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Recent questions

  • What historical events are associated with the wreck of the USS Independence?

    The wreck of the USS Independence, a WWII aircraft carrier, holds significant historical importance due to its involvement in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The damage from these tests led to its relocation to California, where it was linked to a top-secret Naval Research facility studying defense against nuclear weapons. The USS Independence's connection to these experiments sheds light on the Cold War era and the intense focus on nuclear capabilities during that time.

  • What caused the destruction of the USS Thresher submarine?

    The USS Thresher's destruction was attributed to a combination of factors, including weak pipe joints in the cooling system that led to a high-pressure leak, triggering a reactor shutdown. Moisture freezing in compressed air blocked the submarine's ballast, preventing it from surfacing. Despite the crew's attempt to blow the ballast, it failed, causing the Thresher to descend to crush depth. Ultimately, the pressure from going too deep caused the submarine to implode, resulting in its tragic demise.

  • What was the outcome of the CIA's Project Azorian related to the Soviet submarine K-129?

    The CIA's Project Azorian was an ambitious attempt to recover parts of the Soviet submarine K-129, which went missing during a patrol armed with nuclear missiles in 1968. The project aimed to retrieve the sub and its weapons from the ocean floor but faced a major setback when a broken claw hindered the operation. As a result, the mission failed to recover the crucial components of the K-129, leaving the submarine and its nuclear arsenal on the seabed, shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

  • What secrets are hidden within the scuttled USS Independence off California?

    The scuttled USS Independence off California conceals radioactive secrets that are sealed in concrete barrels to prevent espionage. The wreckage of the aircraft carrier, used in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, holds remnants of its radioactive past, safeguarded to avoid any potential leaks or unauthorized access. The presence of these sealed barrels underscores the sensitive nature of the radioactive materials aboard the USS Independence and the precautions taken to protect them from external threats.

  • What significant event occurred in 1962 involving the US and Soviet Union?

    In 1962, the US and Soviet Union faced a nuclear crisis over missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of destruction. This tense standoff, known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, highlighted the escalating tensions of the Cold War era and the potential catastrophic consequences of nuclear conflict. The events of 1962 underscored the precarious balance of power between the two superpowers and the grave risks posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons during that tumultuous period.

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Summary

00:00

Cold War Secrets: Abandoned Nuclear Weapons Uncovered

  • Cold War killing machines and lethal nuclear weapons lie abandoned under the oceans, hidden for over half a century.
  • Accurate data and technology now allow us to uncover these secrets, revealing a lost world beneath the waters.
  • A giant hand crushed the most advanced submarine of the Cold War, raising questions about accidental nuclear disasters.
  • In 1962, the US and Soviet Union faced a nuclear crisis over missiles in Cuba, with the world on the brink of destruction.
  • A mysterious wreck off Northern California holds secrets of top-secret Cold War experiments.
  • The wreck of the USS Independence, a WWII aircraft carrier, is discovered off San Francisco, revealing damage from atomic bomb tests.
  • The USS Independence was ravaged by radiation during atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, leading to its relocation to California.
  • The wreck of the USS Independence in California links to a top-secret Naval Research facility studying defense against nuclear weapons.
  • The scuttled USS Independence off California hides radioactive secrets, sealed in concrete barrels to prevent espionage.
  • A lost nuclear warhead off the coast of Spain in 1966 prompts a search, with a delicate underwater rescue mission to retrieve the bomb.

28:30

USS Thresher and K-129: Tragic Submarine Losses

  • Debris field of the USS Thresher found on the seafloor, shredded with only a piece of the tail identifiable.
  • USS Thresher's destruction attributed to pressure from going too deep, causing implosion.
  • Weak pipe joints in cooling system of Thresher lead to high-pressure leak, triggering reactor shutdown.
  • Moisture freezing in compressed air blocks Thresher's ballast, preventing surfacing.
  • Crew's attempt to blow ballast fails, leading to Thresher's descent to crush depth.
  • Soviet submarine K-129, armed with nuclear missiles, goes missing during a patrol in 1968.
  • CIA's Project Azorian attempts to recover parts of K-129, including nuclear missiles, but fails due to a broken claw, leaving the sub and its weapons on the ocean floor.
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