Hell Below (2016–2018): Season 2, Episode 6 - Cuban Crisis - full transcript

OCTOBER 1962.

DURING WHAT WILL BECOME KNOWN
AS THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS,

EVERYONE HOLDS THEIR BREATH.

IT WAS THE MOST
FRIGHTENING MOMENT

OF THE ENTIRE 45 YEARS
OF THE COLD WAR.

TWO GLOBAL SUPERPOWERS

APPEAR READY TO BRING THE WORLD
TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR.

BUT UNDER THE SEA SURFACE,

A DIFFERENT NUCLEAR BATTLE
IS BREWING.

AND NO ONE REALLY UNDERSTANDS

WHERE THE REAL THREAT
COMES FROM.



THROUGH THE 20th CENTURY,

A SUBSEA WEAPON ALLOWS WARRIORS
TO FIGHT FROM BENEATH THE WAVES.

WITH CUNNING, FORCE,
AND TENACITY,

THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.

REVOLUTIONARY, BUT STILL
SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,

IT'S A DESPERATE BID...

TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.

THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.

OCTOBER 1962.

A SOVIET SUBMARINE
RACES TOWARDS CUBA

ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION.

B- 59 HAS JUST LEFT
A RUSSIAN PORT NEAR MURMANSK,

AND NOW CROSSES THE BARENTS SEA.

RADIO AND RADAR TECHS SCAN
FOR ENEMY SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT.



THEY ARE APPROACHING
THE NORDKAPP LINE.

NAMED AFTER THE NORTHERNMOST
POINT OF MAINLAND EUROPE,

IT IS A NATO ANTI-SUBMARINE
WARFARE BARRIER

WHICH RUNS FROM BEAR ISLAND

TO NORDKAPP, NORWAY.

SOVIET CAPTAIN 2nd RANK
VALENTIN SAVITSKY...

MUST GET HIS CREW
THROUGH THE LINE UNDETECTED.

IF HE IS LOCATED,

NATO WILL TRY TO TRACK
B-59'S EVERY MOVE

AND PUT THREE OTHER SUBMARINES,
B-4, B-36 AND B-130, AT RISK.

EVEN WORSE,

IT COULD TIP OFF THE AMERICANS
ABOUT OPERATION ANADYR-

A MASSIVE SOVIET CAMPAIGN

TO MOVE TROOPS,

MILITARY EQUIPMENT, AND MISSILES

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO CUBA.

MONTHS OF SECRET MOBILIZATION

THAT ULTIMATELY TRIGGERS
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

IT WILL BRING THE WORLD
THE CLOSEST IT HAS EVER COME

TO GLOBAL NUCLEAR WAR.

BUT THE SITUATION IN CUBA
IS COMPLICATED,

AS THE ISLAND NATION'S CONFLICT
WITH THE UNITED STATES HEATS UP.

JUST THREE YEARS BEFORE,
IN 1959,

FIDEL CASTRO OVERTHROWS

THE PREVIOUSLY
U. S.- BACKED GOVERNMENT

IN HAVANA.

IN RESPONSE,

PRESIDENT KENNEDY AUTHORIZES
CIA-TRAINED EXILES FROM CUBA

TO INVADE THEIR HOMELAND.

CASTRO FIGHTS BACK VIGOROUSLY.

THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
IS A DISASTER FOR THE AMERICANS.

WHILE HE WINS THAT ROUND,

CASTRO IS CERTAIN THAT ANOTHER
U. S. INVASION IS INEVITABLE.

SUDDENLY KHRUSHCHEV,

HEAD OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT,

REALIZED HE HAD AN OPENING,

AND HE WAS GOING TO EXPLOIT IT.

CASTRO ENTERS SECRET TALKS

WITH NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV,

WHO PROPOSES A SERIES
OF MISSILE SITES

AS AN OFFER OF SOVIET PROTECTION
FOR THEIR COMMUNIST ALLY.

CUBA WILL BE HOME TO DOZENS
OF NUCLEAR MISSILES

EASILY WITHIN RANGE
OF ALL OF THE U. S. MAINLAND...

A DANGEROUS PROVOCATION

IN THE CHESS GAME
OF THE COLD WAR.

FROM THE SOVIET PERSPECTIVE,

WE SEE KHRUSHCHEV WANTING
TO PUT MISSILES INTO CUBA

THAT COMPENSATE FOR THE MISSILES
THAT THE UNITED STATES

HAS PLACED
IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ITALY

AND WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF PUTTING INTO TURKEY,

COUPLED WITH OUR BOMBER BASES
AROUND THE WORLD,

WHICH HAD NUCLEAR STRIKE
AIRCRAFT ON THEM.

CASTRO AGREES TO THE PLAN.

AFTER APRIL 1962,

THE SOVIETS START TO TRANSPORT

SOME 40,000 TROOPS,
ARTILLERY, AND MISSILES.

THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES

THE CREATION
OF A SUBMARINE BASE.

THE INITIAL PLAN

WAS THAT THE SUBMARINES
WOULD GO OPENLY TO CUBA

AND THEY WOULD JOIN
THE GROUP OF SOVIET FORCES,

WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE
BIGGEST GROUP OF SOVIET FORCES

OUTSIDE OF THE SOVIET UNION.

BUT THE PLANS CHANGE

IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP
TO THE SUBMARINES' DEPARTURE.

ACCORDING TO HIS FINAL ORDERS,

SAVITSKY MUST NOW
GET B-59 THROUGH

WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.

EVEN WORSE,
HE MUST DO SO IN RECORD TIME.

THE ORDERS

THAT WERE FINALLY GIVEN
TO THE COMMANDERS

ASSUMED THE SPEED OF THE TRAVEL

AND THE SECRECY OF THE TRAVEL,

WHICH WERE PRACTICALLY
INCOMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER.

TO MEET MOSCOW'S DEADLINE,

SAVITSKY AND THE OTHER
SUBMARINE CAPTAINS

MUST TRAVEL OVER 10 KNOTS
AT ALL TIMES.

BUT THIS WILL STRAIN
THEIR PROJECT 641 SUBMARINES-

ALSO KNOWN
BY THEIR NATO CLASSIFICATION,

FOXTROT.

THE SOVIET PROJECT 641

WAS A DIESEL ELECTRIC SUBMARINE

MODELED IN PART
ON THE GERMAN TYPE 21

OF WORLD WAR II.

THESE SUBS USE DIESEL ENGINES

WHILE RUNNING ON THE SURFACE

AND BATTERY-POWERED MOTORS
WHEN THEY SUBMERGE.

THE BATTERIES LAST FOR ONLY
SHORT PERIODS OF TIME

BEFORE THEY NEED TO BE RECHARGED
ON OR NEAR THE SURFACE.

FOXTROTS INCORPORATE THE BEST
OF EARLIER U-BOAT TECHNOLOGY-

THE SNORKEL.

WHEN THEIR BATTERIES,

WHICH RAN THEM
WHEN THEY WERE SUBMERGED,

STARTED TO RUN LOW,

YOU STUCK UP A BREATHING PIPE
CALLED A SNORKEL,

BROUGHT IN FRESH AIR
FOR THE ENGINES.

BUT TRAVELING SUBMERGED,

EVEN WITH A SNORKEL,
REDUCES SPEED.

THAT LIMITS THE SPEED
TO ABOUT 10 KNOTS-

12, 13 MILES AN HOUR.

AND IT JUST TAKES A LONG TIME.

THE SOVIET CAPTAINS BELIEVE

THAT BRITISH
AND NORWEGIAN FORCES

HAVE DETECTED THE SUBMARINES.

IF THEY PINPOINT
THE SUBS' EXACT LOCATION,

NATO CAN BLOW THEIR COVER
AND REVEAL THEIR COURSE TO CUBA.

FORCED TO TRAVEL
CLOSE TO THE SURFACE

TO USE THEIR SNORKEL,

THERE IS NOWHERE
FOR B-59 TO HIDE.

BUT THEY MAY HAVE AN OPTION
TO GIVE THEM THE EDGE-

THEIR RADIO INTERCEPT GROUP.

WITH STRONG
ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS,

THE RADIO INTERCEPT GROUP
MONITORS ALL OPEN FREQUENCIES

FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION.

SAVITSKY WAS SKEPTICAL

WHEN THE GROUP IS FIRST ASSIGNED
TO THE SUBMARINE,

JUST DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

INITIALLY, THEY
WERE GREETED WITH SUSPICION,

PARTLY BECAUSE
THEY WERE NOT SUBMARINERS.

THEY WERE SEEN AS KGB,
THEY WERE SEEN AS OUTSIDERS.

THE SUBMARINERS
DID NOT UNDERSTAND

WHY THEY NEEDED THEM,

BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT
A STANDARD UNIT ON A SUB.

IN THIS PERIOD,

MUCH COMMUNICATION IS CARRIED
ON OPEN SHORT WAVE FREQUENCIES.

B- 59'S RADIO INTERCEPT GROUP
WORKS FURIOUSLY

TO MAP OUT
NATO VESSELS IN THE AREA.

MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THEY LISTEN TO LEARN

IF THE PRESENCE
OF SOVIET SUBMARINES

HAS BEEN DETECTED.

B- 59 CLOSES IN
ON THE NORDKAPP LINE.

AS THEY REACH IT,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF NATO FORCES.

B- 59 HAS BEATEN THEM.

THE SOVIET CAPTAINS
BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE

NATO FORCES EXPECTED
FOXTROT SUBMARINES

TO TRAVEL AT THEIR
USUAL, SLOWER SPEED,

UNAWARE OF MOSCOW'S
AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.

ALL FOUR SOVIET SUBMARINES
CROSS THE NORDKAPP LINE

INTO THE NORWEGIAN SEA.

BUT THE NORDKAPP LINE IS ONLY
THE FIRST CHALLENGE THEY FACE.

EVEN AS THEY CROSS THIS ONE,

THEY MUST BREAK THROUGH ANOTHER
NATO ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE LINE

TO GET TO CUBA.

AND SAVITSKY HAS MORE THAN NATO
TO WORRY ABOUT.

HE IS BEING WATCHED
FROM WITHIN HIS OWN SUBMARINE.

B- 59 ALSO CARRIES

CAPTAIN 2nd RANK
VASILY ARKHIPOV.

VASILY ARKHIPOV

IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF
OF THE BRIGADE,

AND IN HIS RANK,

HE IS THE SAME RANK

AS THE COMMANDER
OF THE SUBMARINE, SAVITSKY.

THE INFORMAL RULES
ON THE SUBS WERE

THAT THE COMMANDER
OF THE SUBMARINE

IS IN CHARGE
OF MAKING DECISIONS,

NO MATTER WHO ELSE
IS ON THE SUBMARINE,

BUT CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT
ARKHIPOV IS ON THE SUBMARINE

MAKES THE PRACTICE
OF COMMANDING THE SUBMARINE

MORE COMPLICATED,

BECAUSE SAVITSKY WILL HAVE TO
CONSULT WITH ARKHIPOV

ON ALL THE MAJOR DECISIONS
THAT HE'S MAKING.

THE CREW ALSO INCLUDES
A POLITICAL OFFICER

NAMED IVAN MASLENNIKOV.

HIS JOB IS TO REPORT ANYTHING
"UN-SOVIET" SAVITSKY DOES

BACK TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY
IN THE USSR.

FEW SOVIET CAPTAINS
HAVE EVER CROSSED

THESE 5,000 MILES
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

BALANCING BOTH POLITICAL
AND MILITARY CONCERNS,

THIS MISSION TO CUBA WILL PROVE
TO BE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE

OF SAVITSKY'S CAREER.

OCTOBER 1962.

AS THE COLD WAR HEATS UP,

B- 59 AND THREE OTHER
RUSSIAN SUBMARINES

TRAVEL AS PART
OF OPERATION ANADYR-

THE SECRET SOVIET MOBILIZATION
ON THE ISLAND OF CUBA.

THE MOVEMENT OF FOUR SOVIET SUBS
INTO THE ATLANTIC

COULD TIP OFF THE AMERICANS.

THEY MUST REMAIN UNDETECTED.

THEY HAVE JUST CROSSED

THE FIRST OF TWO
NATO ANTI-SUBMARINE LINES.

LIKE THE OTHER CAPTAINS,

VALENTIN SAVITSKY
IS UNDER PRESSURE

TO COMPLETE THE JOURNEY
IN RECORD TIME.

NOW SAVITSKY APPROACHES

THE SECOND NATO ANTI-SUBMARINE
WARFARE LINE-

THE GREENLAND-ICELAND-UK GAP.

HIS ORDERS ARE CLEAR.

THEY KNEW THEY HAD STRICT ORDERS

NOT TO BE DISCOVERED,
NOT TO BE SURFACED.

IF A SUBMARINE
IS DETECTED HERE,

NATO CAN LAUNCH PATROL AIRCRAFT

FROM BASES IN ICELAND
AND SCOTLAND TO TRACK IT.

THIS INCREASES THE RISK

THE OTHER SUBS
WILL BE PICKED UP,

EXPOSING THE SCALE
OF THE OPERATION

AND ENDANGERING THE SOVIET PLANS
FOR A NUCLEAR BASE IN CUBA.

SAVITSKY WILL GO THROUGH
THE ICELAND-FAEROES GAP

TO THE EAST.

DESPITE THE FISHING BOATS
THAT FILL THE PASSAGE,

HE SETS COURSE ON THE SURFACE
TO MAKE BETTER TIME.

SAVITSKY GIVES THE ORDER,

AND B-59 SPEEDS UP TO 15 KNOTS.

THE SUBMARINE DARTS ALONG
AT HIGH SPEED,

WEAVING IN AND OUT
OF THE FISHING BOATS

AS DISCRETELY AS IT CAN.

MEANWHILE,
THE RADIO INTERCEPT GROUP

KEEPS TRACK
OF AERIAL ACTIVITY OVERHEAD.

THOSE COMMUNICATIONS

WERE BOTH ON
THE OPEN FREQUENCIES,

AND THEY ALSO WERE ON...

THEY WERE CODED COMMUNICATIONS

THAT THEY COULD PICK UP
BECAUSE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT.

THEY EVEN LISTEN IN

ON THE CONVERSATIONS
BETWEEN THE FISHERMEN

TO MAKE SURE
NO ONE HAS SEEN THEM.

THEY PASS THE SECOND
NATO LINE UNDETECTED.

ONCE INTO THE ATLANTIC,

THE SOVIET SUBMARINES
FIND THEMSELVES

IN A RADIO COMMUNICATIONS VACUUM
FROM MOSCOW.

INTERFERENCE BLOCKS OUT
NORTHERN FLEET RADIO STATIONS.

FOR TWO DAYS, CREWS SEEK
THE CLEAREST FREQUENCIES.

FINALLY, THEY'RE ABLE TO SEND
AND RECEIVE MESSAGES

THROUGH OCCASIONAL WINDOWS.

BUT AS THEY GET
FARTHER FROM HOME,

THE WORSE THEIR RECEPTION
IS GOING TO BE.

THAT'S LIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM.

THE AMERICANS HAVE JUST MADE
THE FIRST DISCOVERY

OF THE SOVIET BUILD-UP IN CUBA,

AND IT'S SHOCKING.

TOP-SECRET RECONNAISSANCE
BY U-2 SPY PLANES

HAS BROUGHT BACK DAMNING
PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.

THEY CLEARLY SHOW LAUNCH SITES

FOR MEDIUM-RANGE
BALLISTIC NUCLEAR MISSILES

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE CIA HAD
A MONOPOLY ON THE U-2 PHOTOS.

AND I SUSPECT THAT WAS
THE BEST STUFF THEY EVER HAD.

THE AMERICANS ARE STUNNED,

AND THEIR INTELLIGENCE
INFORMATION IS INCOMPLETE.

UNKNOWN TO THE UNITED STATES,

THE SOVIETS HAD LANDED
134 NUCLEAR WARHEADS AND BOMBS

IN CUBA.

A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE
WERE FOR THE BALLISTIC MISSILES

THAT COULD REACH
THE UNITED STATES.

TENSIONS RISE
IN WASHINGTON, D. C.,

AS EVERYONE SCRAMBLES
FOR MORE INFORMATION.

B- 59 IS JUST ONE
OF FOUR SOVIET SUBMARINES

CARRYING MEN
AND MATERIALS TO CUBA.

AFTER EACH SOVIET SUB CROSSES
THE GREENLAND-ICELAND-UK LINE

AND APPROACHES NORTH AMERICA,

THE RISK OF BEING
DISCOVERED INCREASES.

THEY CAN HIDE WITH SOME HELP
FROM MOTHER NATURE,

BUT IT COMES AT A COST.

THEY WERE KIND OF HELPED

BY A MAJOR STORM
IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

THE ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE UNITS
ARE NOT AS ACTIVE.

THEY SIMPLY CAN'T FLY
IN THAT STORM.

AS A RESULT, THEY WERE ABLE
TO GET TO THE SPEED.

SINCE THEY ARE PRETTY SURE

THEY WON'T BE DISCOVERED,

THE SUBMARINES
TRAVEL ON THE SURFACE

AND CAN MAKE BETTER TIME
THAN WHEN USING THE SNORKEL.

THEY WOULD GO UP 40-METER WAVES

AND THEN ESSENTIALLY DIVE DOWN,

AND SOMETIMES
THE ANGLE OF THE SUBMARINE

WOULD BE 40, 50 DEGREES,

WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

AND THEY SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW,

YES, THE SUBMARINES
COULD HAVE MALFUNCTION,"

BUT THEY DIDN'T,
THEY WITHSTOOD THE STORM.

THE SOVIET UNION
DID HAVE NUCLEAR SUBMARINES

THAT COULD HAVE
AVOIDED THE STORM

BY TRAVELING SUBMERGED,
POWERED BY NUCLEAR REACTOR.

BUT THERE WERE ISSUES.

AT ONE POINT,

THE SOVIET REGIME PLANNED TO
SEND NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES

TO CUBAN WATERS

AND ACTUALLY BASE
SOME OF THEM IN CUBA.

HOWEVER, IN 1962,

THEY WERE HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS

WITH THEIR FIRST-GENERATION
NUCLEAR SUBMARINES.

CAPTAIN 2nd RANK
VASILY ARKHIPOV,

THE BRIGADE CHIEF OF STAFF
ON BOARD B-59,

HAD FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE
WITH THE PROBLEMS.

HE SERVED ON SUBMARINE K-19

WHEN IT DEVELOPED
A NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLANT LEAK.

THE RADIOACTIVE CORE'S
TEMPERATURE ROSE QUICKLY.

THE CREW NEEDED
TO REPAIR THE COOLING SYSTEM,

OR THE CORE WOULD MELT
THROUGH THE REACTOR

AND SINK THE SUB.

WITHOUT PROPER
RADIATION EQUIPMENT,

THEY USE WHAT THEY HAVE-

GAS MASKS AND RAINCOATS.

WHEN THE FIRST TEAM COMES OUT,
THEY BEGIN TO VOMIT.

THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED
TO HIGH LEVELS OF RADIATION.

THE SECOND GROUP
KNOWS THEIR LIKELY FATE.

EVEN SO, THEY CONTINUE
THE REPAIRS.

THE CREW JERRY-RIGS
A COOLING SYSTEM

WITH THE DRINKING WATER ON BOARD

TO SAVE THE SUBMARINE.

BUT EIGHT MEN DIE,

AND EVERYONE ELSE
GETS CONTAMINATED.

IT IS SOMETHING VASILY ARKHIPOV
WILL NEVER FORGET.

NOW, IN OCTOBER 1962,

ADDITIONAL RECONNAISSANCE
FLIGHTS OVER CUBA

HAVE REVEALED
MORE MISSILE SITES.

IN WASHINGTON,

THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF PUSH
FOR AN AIR STRIKE AGAINST CUBA.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY DISAGREES.

AN AIR STRIKE
WOULD ESCALATE THE CONFLICT

AND RISKS
A NUCLEAR CONFRONTATION.

JFK BASES HIS VIEWS

ON HIS EXPERIENCE
AS A WORLD WAR II OFFICER.

HE DOESN'T VIEW NUCLEAR WAR AS
A WAR THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE WON.

AND HE REALLY VIEWS THIS
AS A POLITICAL PROBLEM TO SOLVE.

BUT HE ALSO WORRIES
AMERICAN INACTION

WILL ONLY EMBOLDEN KHRUSHCHEV.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY WILL HAVE TO
CHOOSE HIS NEXT STEPS

VERY CAREFULLY.

OCTOBER 1962.

FOUR SOVIET SUBMARINE CREWS
ARE EXHAUSTED.

WHILE TRAVELING TO SET UP
A SUBMARINE BASE IN CUBA,

THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED
THE REMNANTS OF A HURRICANE.

SURVIVING THE STORM
TAKES ITS TOLL

AS THEY TRAVEL ON THE SURFACE
TO MAKE BETTER TIME.

CAPTAIN 2nd RANK
VALENTIN SAVITSKY

KNOWS THAT HIS JOB
IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN TOUGHER.

AS THEY SAIL, THEY BRING B-59

WITHIN RANGE OF AMERICAN
SHORE-BASED FACILITIES

AND LONG-RANGE PATROL AIRCRAFT.

IN WASHINGTON, D. C.,

KENNEDY'S TEAM
DEBATES THEIR OPTIONS.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE
HOW EMOTIONALLY CHARGED

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS,

MEETING WITH JFK
IN HIS CABINET ROOM.

THE PRIMARY ADVISOR
IS HIS BROTHER,

ROBERT F. KENNEDY,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE McNAMARA,

YOU'VE GOT
THE SECRETARY OF STATE,

YOU'VE GOT THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF,

ALL DEBATING AND ARGUING
HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS.

THE PRESIDENT'S BROTHER,

ROBERT KENNEDY,

IS BLUNT IN HIS ASSESSMENT.

MR. PRESIDENT,

WE HAVE THE FIFTH ONE, REALLY,
WHICH IS THE INVASION.

I WOULD SAY THAT YOU'RE
DROPPING BOMBS ALL OVER CUBA

IF YOU DO THE SECOND,

THE AIRPORTS,
KNOCKING OUT THEIR PLANES,

DROPPING IT ON
ALL THEIR MISSILES,

YOU'RE COVERING MOST OF CUBA.

YOU'RE GOING TO KILL
AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE,

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
AN AWFUL LOT OF HEAT ON IT.

IT BOILS DOWN
TO TWO RISKY OPTIONS.

JFK COULD EITHER INITIATE
AN AIR STRIKE OR A BLOCKADE.

IF HE EXECUTES AN AIR STRIKE,

SURELY THE RUSSIANS
WOULD RESPOND TO THAT.

BUT EVEN A BLOCKADE
IS STILL AN ACT OF WAR.

BOTH OPTIONS COULD
TRIGGER A LARGER CONFRONTATION.

FOR THE KREMLIN,

THE MISSILES IN CUBA
ARE AN ACT OF SELF-DEFENSE.

KHRUSHCHEV DOESN'T BELIEVE
HE'S STARTING A NUCLEAR WAR.

HE LOOKS AT JFK
AS A RATIONAL INDIVIDUAL,

AND THAT THIS IS
A RATIONAL RESPONSE

TO POSITIONING
THE JUPITER MISSILES IN TURKEY.

ON OCTOBER 22nd,

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY MAKES
HIS FAMOUS ADDRESS TO THE NATION

AND BEGINS WITH THE REVELATION
OF THE MISSILE SITES.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE BASES

CAN BE NONE OTHER

THAN TO PROVIDE
A NUCLEAR STRIKE CAPABILITY

AGAINST THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

SEVERAL OF THEM INCLUDE
MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES,

CAPABLE OF CARRYING
A NUCLEAR WARHEAD

FOR A DISTANCE OF MORE
THAN 1,000 NAUTICAL MILES.

EACH OF THESE MISSILES,
IN SHORT,

IS CAPABLE OF STRIKING
WASHINGTON, D. C.,

THE PANAMA CANAL,

CAPE CANAVERAL,

MEXICO CITY,

OR ANY OTHER CITY

IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART
OF THE UNITED STATES.

IN THE SPEECH,
HE LAYS BARE

THE NORMS THAT
THE RUSSIANS HAVE CROSSED

AND PROVIDES ENOUGH DETAIL

TO PROVIDE A CALL OF ACTION
FOR THE AMERICANS.

I HAVE DIRECTED

THAT THE FOLLOWING INITIAL STEPS
BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.

KENNEDY THEN PROPOSES
A QUARANTINE LINE,

INSTEAD OF AN OUTRIGHT BLOCKADE,

TO COME INTO EFFECT
ON OCTOBER 24th.

ALL SHIPS
OF ANY KIND BOUND FOR CUBA,

FROM WHATEVER NATION OR PORT,

WILL, IF FOUND TO CONTAIN
CARGOES OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS,

BE TURNED BACK.

BY CALLING IT A QUARANTINE
INSTEAD OF A BLOCKADE,

JFK HAS SHIFTED THE FOCUS
AWAY FROM THE MILITARY

AND TOWARDS
A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.

HE'S ALSO TRYING
TO PROVIDE THE RUSSIANS

A DE-ESCALATION OPPORTUNITY.

BUT IN THE EVENT THAT FAILS,

JFK ORDERS THE GREATEST
EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION

OF U. S. TROOPS
SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR,

TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE
INVASION OF CUBA.

THE BRITISH CONSUL IN MIAMI
DESCRIBES IT

LIKE BEING IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND
RIGHT BEFORE D-DAY.

SOME 200 AMERICAN SHIPS

TRAVEL TO POSITIONS
ON THE QUARANTINE LINE-

AN ARC STRETCHING OUT
500 MILES FROM CUBA.

MEANWHILE,
FOUR SOVIET FOXTROT SUBMARINES

MAKE IT INTO THE WATERS

OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST
OF THE UNITED STATES.

THUS FAR,
U. S. ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE,

OR A. S. W. UNITS,

HAVE NOT MOVED
TO INTERCEPT THEM.

BUT IT QUICKLY BECOMES APPARENT

THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT
SUBMARINE FOR THE JOB.

THE FOXTROTS,
FIRST BUILT IN THE LATE '50s-

EXCELLENT SUBMARINES.

BUT THE PROBLEM-

THESE SUBMARINES DESIGNED
FOR ARCTIC WATERS.

AND EVEN WITH THE SNORKEL
BRINGING IN FRESH AIR,

WHEN THEY RAN
THEIR DIESEL ENGINES,

GENERATING HEAT,

PLUS THE INSULATION
OF THESE SUBMARINES

DESIGNED TO OPERATE
IN ARCTIC WATERS...

MISERABLE LIVING CONDITIONS.

MISERABLE.

THEY DID NOT HAVE
ENOUGH FRESH WATER, OF COURSE,

BECAUSE THEIR MISSION WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE TO GO TO MARIEL

AND DOCK THERE.

SO THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING.

IT REACHED UP TO 140 FAHRENHEIT
IN THE DIESEL COMPARTMENTS.

PEOPLE WERE FAINTING.

THEY PRACTICALLY
WALKED AROUND NAKED.

IT IS AT THIS POINT

THAT AMERICAN FORCES
FINALLY DETECT AND RESPOND

TO THE SOVIET SUBMARINES
SO CLOSE TO THEIR COAST.

THE DAY AFTER KENNEDY'S SPEECH,

A SECRET
SOUND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM,

CALLED SOSUS,

BEGINS TO PICK UP
A LOT OF TARGETS.

SUBMARINES MAKE SOUNDS

THAT YOU CAN PICK UP
AT ENORMOUS DISTANCES.

THEY DON'T GET
DISTORTED BY THE SEA.

THEY FIND THAT THEY CAN PUT

THESE ARRAYS OF LISTENING
DEVICES IN THE OCEAN,

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY
HEAR SUBMARINES

HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY,
WHICH IS AMAZING.

IN THEORY,
ENEMY SUBMARINES CAN BE DETECTED

UP TO 600 MILES OUT
FROM THE U. S. COAST.

IF THEY GET PICKED UP,

YOU CAN THEN
SEND OUT AN AIRPLANE

TO FIND OUT
EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE,

YOU CAN START TRACKING THEM.

BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 23rd,

WHEN SOSUS DETECTS THE TARGETS,

AIRCRAFT ARE DISPATCHED
FOR CONFIRMATION.

THE AIRCRAFT ESTABLISH
VISUAL CONTACT

WITH SNORKELS AND PERISCOPES
OF THE SOVIET SUBS.

IN OCTOBER 1962,

AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE
KNOWS THE SOVIET SUBMARINES

POSE A REAL THREAT.

THE FOUR FOXTROT SUBMARINES

EACH HAD 21
CONVENTIONAL TORPEDOES,

HIGH EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS

DESIGNED TO SINK SURFACE SHIPS
OR SUBMARINES.

BUT THERE IS ONE CRITICAL FACT

THE AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW.

JUST BEFORE THEY LEFT PORT,
A SPECIAL WEAPON WAS ADDED

TO THE ARSENAL
OF THE SOVIET SUBMARINES.

IN ADDITION,
EACH OF THE FOUR SUBMARINES

HAD ONE NUCLEAR TORPEDO.

WITH TEN KILOTONS OF EXPLOSIVE,

WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING LARGER

THAN HALF THE EXPLOSIVE POWER

USED AGAINST HIROSHIMA
OR NAGASAKI.

THE ORDERS OF HOW AND WHEN

TO USE THESE WEAPONS IS MURKY.

THE CAPTAINS LATER REPORT

THEY WERE GIVEN
A VERBAL BRIEFING

BEFORE LEAVING THE USSR.

THEY SAID THAT
THE ORAL INSTRUCTIONS WERE

THAT YOU USE IT
IN THREE SITUATIONS.

FIRST, YOU USE IT
IF YOU ARE ATTACKED

AND YOU HAVE HOLE IN THE HULL
ABOVE THE WATER.

IF YOU ARE ATTACKED
UNDER THE WATER

AND YOU HAVE
A HOLE IN YOUR HULL,

AND THE THIRD ONE, IF YOU GET
DIRECT ORDERS FROM MOSCOW.

APPARENTLY ADMIRAL FORKEN SAID
SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT,

WELL, IF THEY SLAP YOU
ON THE RIGHT HAND,

DON'T LET THEM
TO SLAP YOU ON THE LEFT.

USE YOUR WEAPONS.

DO NOT BECOME
THE SHAME OF THE FLEET.

THE USE OF A NUCLEAR TORPEDO

DURING A NAVAL BATTLE

WOULD HAVE BEEN UNPRECEDENTED.

IF ONE FIRES
A CONVENTIONAL TORPEDO

AT AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

IT WOULD CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE.

TO SINK A CARRIER OF THAT SIZE,

YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEED
TWO, THREE TORPEDO HITS.

A NUCLEAR TORPEDO...

EVEN EXPLODING NEAR A CARRIER,

WOULD DESTROY THE CARRIER

AND ANY SHIPS WITHIN
A FEW MILES OF THE CARRIER.

AND IF IT DIDN'T SINK THEM,

THEY WOULD BE SO WRECKED
THAT THEY'D BE FLOATING HULKS.

THE SCALE
OF THIS POTENTIAL DEVASTATION

WAS CONFIRMED BY AMERICAN TESTS
AT BIKINI ATOLL IN 1946.

AFTER KENNEDY ANNOUNCES HIS PLAN
FOR A QUARANTINE LINE,

MOSCOW ORDERS
THE SOVIET SUBS TO WITHDRAW

TO AN AREA CALLED
THE SARGASSO SEA

AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS.

THE CAPTAINS RECEIVE
LITTLE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FROM THE KREMLIN.

ONCE MORE,

THE SUB'S RADIO INTERCEPT GROUP
PROVES ITS VALUE.

THEY GATHER INFORMATION
FROM OPEN BROADCASTS,

THEY LISTEN TO
U. S. RADIO AND TV.

THE SOVIET SUBMARINE CREWS
HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK

ABOUT THE NATURE
OF THE BUILD-UP IN CUBA.

FOR THE FIRST TIME,

THEY LEARN WHAT THE REST
OF THE WORLD KNOWS.

IT'S FROM THIS UNIT

THAT THE COMMANDERS LEARNED

ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THE SOVIET UNION

INSTALLED
NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON CUBA.

THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT.

THE CREW ALSO LEARNS
OF KENNEDY'S THREAT

TO STOP AND SEARCH

ANY SHIP APPROACHING
THE QUARANTINE LINE.

BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA

HOW THE SOVIET UNION
PLANS TO RESPOND.

ON OCTOBER 24th,

THE WHITE HOUSE MONITORS
TWO SOVIET SHIPS

REPORTED TO BE CLOSE
TO THE QUARANTINE LINE.

AS THE ADMINISTRATION WAITS,

INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
REVEAL THE PRESENCE

OF SOVIET SUBMARINES
IN THE REGION.

INTO THE 1960s,

THE THREAT POSED
BY ENEMY SUBMARINES

WERE THE SAME
AS DURING WORLD WAR II.

THE MAIN ISSUE WITH SUBMARINES

IS THEY'LL ATTACK YOUR SHIPS.

WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNS

THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE
OR MAYBE TWO SUBMARINES

NEAR THE QUARANTINE LINE,

DISCUSSIONS HEAT UP.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY IMAGINES
A WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

IF THIS SUBMARINE

SHOULD SINK OUR DESTROYER,

THEN WHAT IS OUR PROPOSED REPLY?

EVERYONE WORRIES
THAT ANY MILITARY ACTION

COULD ESCALATE
TO A NUCLEAR CONFLICT.

TO AVOID AN INCIDENT,

DEFENSE SECRETARY McNAMARA
PROPOSES A PROTOCOL

TO BRING THE SOVIET SUBMARINES
TO THE SURFACE.

WE HAVE DEPTH CHARGES
THAT HAVE SUCH A SMALL CHARGE

THAT THEY CAN BE DROPPED

AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY
HIT THE SUBMARINE

WITHOUT DAMAGING THE SUBMARINE.

KENNEDY REMAINS SKEPTICAL.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
THE FIRST THING WE ATTACK

IS THE SOVIET SUBMARINE.

McNAMARA BELIEVES

THE THREAT TO AMERICAN SHIPS
CAN BE REDUCED

IF THE SOVIET SUBS
CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE

AND ESCORTED OUT
OF HARM'S WAY.

HE INTENDS TO ASK MOSCOW

TO INFORM THE SUBMARINE CAPTAINS
OF THE PLAN.

CRITICALLY,
THE AMERICANS REMAIN UNAWARE

OF THE WEAPONS ON BOARD
THE SOVIET SUBMARINES.

McNAMARA DOES NOT KNOW

THAT THE GREATEST THREAT
FOR A NUCLEAR ATTACK

MAY COME FROM
THE VERY SUBMARINES

HE IS TRYING
TO FORCE TO THE SURFACE.

IN OCTOBER OF 1962,

PRESIDENT KENNEDY IMPOSES
A QUARANTINE LINE AROUND CUBA

TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER BUILD-UP

OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
ON THE ISLAND.

NEARLY 200 U. S. NAVY SHIPS
HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED

AND PREPARE TO STOP
ANY SHIPS APPROACHING CUBA.

THE NAVY MONITORS
TWO VESSELS IN PARTICULAR-

THE YURI GAGARIN AND KIMOVSK.

EVERYONE WORRIES

THAT IF THE SOVIET SHIPS
REFUSE TO STOP AND BE SEARCHED

AT THE QUARANTINE LINE,

WAR WILL BE INEVITABLE.

ON OCTOBER 24th,
AFTER DAYS OF TENSION,

THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNS THAT
THE YURI GAGARIN AND KIMOVSK

HAVE REVERSED COURSE
TO THE SOVIET UNION.

THEIR RELIEF IS IMMEDIATE.

BUT THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM.

EVEN THOUGH
KHRUSHCHEV ORDERED

THE SOVIET SHIPS TO TURN AROUND,

THE SUBMARINES
ARE STILL IN THE AREA

AND CONSIDERED A THREAT.

THE FOUR SOVIET SUBMARINES

START TO WITHDRAW INTO AN AREA
CALLED THE SARGASSO SEA

AND AWAIT ORDERS FROM MOSCOW.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE

THAT EVEN AFTER
THE SOVIET SHIPS TURNED AROUND,

WE WERE STILL APPROACHING
THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR.

IN THE SARGASSO SEA,
JUST OFF THE U. S. COAST,

AN AMERICAN HUNTER-KILLER GROUP

LED BY THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
USS RANDOLPH

TRACKS SOVIET SUB B-59.

WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
FIVE DESTROYERS AND AIRCRAFT,

THEY PURSUE THE SUB USING
UNDERWATER SOUND SURVEILLANCE,

OR SOSUS DETECTIONS.

IN A CLASSIC CAT- AND-MOUSE GAME,

FOR TWO DAYS,
SOVIET CAPTAIN SAVITSKY

HAS FOUGHT TO KEEP
HIS SUBMARINE CONCEALED.

BUT SAVITSKY IS WORRIED.

THE CREW CONTINUES TO SUFFER
FROM EXTREME HEAT.

AND HIS BATTERIES BEGIN TO DIE.

IF HE GETS CLOSE ENOUGH
TO THE SURFACE

TO USE HIS SNORKEL

TO RUN HIS ENGINES
AND CHARGE HIS BATTERIES,

HE WILL BE SPOTTED IMMEDIATELY.

EVEN SO, SAVITSKY DECIDES
HE HAS NO CHOICE.

HE MUST SURFACE.

BUT B-59 HAS MANAGED TO TRIGGER
AN AMERICAN DETECTION DEVICE

KNOWN AS A SONOBUOY.

SONOBUOY IS A WORD
MADE OUT OF SONAR PLUS BUOY.

BUOY MEANS
IT'S SITTING IN THE WATER.

THE SONAR
IS SOMETHING UNDERNEATH.

THE WHOLE POINT OF A SONOBUOY

IS IT'S SOMETHING
THE AIRPLANE CAN DROP

THAT GOES INTO THE WATER.

IF MOST OF DETECTING SUBS
IS LISTENING FOR THEIR SOUND,

THE AIRPLANE
HAS TO HAVE SOME EAR

THAT CAN STICK INTO THE WATER.

WHEN THE SONOBUOYS
DETECT SUBMARINES,

THEY TRANSMIT INFORMATION

TO HELP PLANES
HONE IN ON THE TARGET.

THE NEAREST TRACKER PLANE
CLOSES IN.

THEY KNOW THEY'VE LOCATED
A FOXTROT SUBMARINE.

AIRCRAFT FROM AIRCRAFT CARRIER
USS RANDOLPH

CALL IN ASSISTANCE FROM
A SURFACE UNIT OF DESTROYERS.

ALL CONVERGE ON B-59.

AS PER HIS ORDERS,

SAVITSKY CANNOT ALLOW
THE AMERICAN VESSELS

TO INTERCEPT HIS SUBMARINE.

TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF HIS SPEED ON THE SURFACE,

HE HEADS NORTH,
TO HIDE WITHIN A RAIN SQUALL.

BUT BEFORE HE GETS THERE,
HE'S SPOTTED BY A TRACKER PLANE.

SAVITSKY ORDERS A CRASH DIVE.

THE DESTROYERS
CONTINUE TO CLOSE IN,

USING THEIR ACTIVE SONAR
TO LOCATE THE SUB WITH PINGS.

AS PER DEFENSE SECRETARY
McNAMARA'S PLAN,

THE SHIPS BEGIN TO DROP
PRACTICE DEPTH CHARGES

TO SIGNAL THE SUBMARINE
TO COME TO THE SURFACE.

BUT PRACTICE DEPTH CHARGES
ARE INTENDED TO ALERT,

NOT DAMAGE THE SUB.

McNAMARA
HAD NOTIFIED THE SOVIETS

OF HIS SURFACING PLAN
THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS,

BUT WORD HAD NOT MADE IT
TO THE SUBMARINE CAPTAINS.

DEEP BELOW,

SAVITSKY KNOWS THERE ARE
MANY AMERICAN CRAFT OVERHEAD.

AND B-59 HAS NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME
TO CHARGE ITS BATTERIES,

AND THEY ARE DYING.

SAVITSKY RACKS HIS BRAIN
IN THE AWFUL HEAT

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT,

WHEN EXPLOSIONS START GOING OFF.

IT SOUNDED TO THEM,
IT FELT TO THEM

THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY ATTACKED
BY THESE DEPTH GRENADES.

ONE OR TWO OF THEM EXPLODED
RIGHT ON THE HULL,

AND AS THEY DESCRIBED IT,

IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SITTING
IN A METAL BARREL

AND SOMEBODY IS HITTING IT
WITH A HAMMER REPEATEDLY.

THE COMBINATION
OF SONAR PINGS AND EXPLOSIONS

WOULD BE A SUBMARINE CAPTAIN'S
WORST FEAR.

THE IRONY WITH THIS PLAN

IS THAT THESE ARE
THE EXACT SAME SYSTEMS

USED TO ATTACK A SUBMARINE.

SAVITSKY IS CONVINCED
THAT WAR HAS BROKEN OUT

AND A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE
MAY BE IMMINENT.

HE MUST BE READY
TO COUNTER ATTACK

WITH HIS TORPEDOES.

HE ORDERS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE
OF THE NUCLEAR TORPEDO

TO READY THE SPECIAL WEAPON.

YOU WERE IN
THIS INCREDIBLE HEAT,

HAVE NO COMMUNICATIONS
WITH MOSCOW

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SURFACE
FOR THE COMMUNICATION,

AND YOU HAVE NO INFORMATION
FROM RADIO INTERCEPT,

AND AT THE SAME TIME,
YOU'RE BEING HAMMERED.

WITH HIS BATTERIES
NEARLY DEAD,

SAVITSKY ONCE AGAIN
HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO COME TO THE SURFACE
OR LOSE THE SUBMARINE.

BELIEVING HE IS UNDER ATTACK,

TO EVEN THE ODDS, HE COULD FIRE
HIS NUCLEAR TORPEDO,

AND IN SO DOING,

TRIGGER THE WORLD'S
FIRST NUCLEAR WAR.

OCTOBER 27, 1962.

SOVIET SUBMARINE B-59

HAS JUST BEEN
FORCED TO THE SURFACE

BY AMERICAN DESTROYERS
AND THE CARRIER USS RANDOLPH.

WHAT MADE THE SITUATION
EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING

IS THAT, UNKNOWN
TO THE UNITED STATES,

EACH OF THOSE FOXTROT SUBMARINES
HAD A NUCLEAR TORPEDO ON BOARD,

AND WE KNOW
THE SUBMARINE COMMANDING OFFICER

WAS BECOMING SO FRUSTRATED
WITH OUR ANTI-SUBMARINE FORCES

AND THE LIVING CONDITIONS
IN THE SUBMARINE,

THE LACK OF COMMUNICATIONS
WITH MOSCOW,

THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING

USING A NUCLEAR TORPEDO
AGAINST U. S. SHIPS.

IN MANY RESPECTS, IT WAS
THE MOST FRIGHTENING MOMENT

OF THE ENTIRE 45 YEARS
OF THE COLD WAR.

THE SUBMARINE'S CAPTAIN,

VALENTIN SAVITSKY,

THE POLITICAL OFFICER ON BOARD,

AND BRIGADE CHIEF OF STAFF
VASILY ARKHIPOV

MUST ALL AGREE
TO FIRE THE WEAPON.

THE POLITICAL OFFICER CONSENTS,
BUT ARKHIPOV HESITATES.

SAVITSKY WAS
THE MORE EMOTIONAL ONE

OF THE TWO,

AND HE WAS JUST
KIND OF REALLY BURSTING

WITH EMOTION, ANGER, HUMILIATION

AT BEING IN THE MIDDLE
OF ALL THIS PURSUIT.

DESPITE THE CLAMOR,

ARKHIPOV SEEMS TO RECOGNIZE
THEY ARE NOT BEING ATTACKED.

THEIR SUBMARINE
HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED.

HIS PRESENCE PROVES CRITICAL.

HE CALMS SAVITSKY DOWN.

I THINK HAVING HIM
NEXT TO SAVITSKY AT THAT MOMENT

REALLY HELPS,

BECAUSE SAVITSKY PROBABLY

WOULD HAVE COME
TO THE SAME CONCLUSION

ONCE HE, YOU KNOW, LOOKS AROUND,

BUT WHO KNOWS?

THE SUBMARINE
IS SURROUNDED BY SHIPS.

SEARCHLIGHTS
ILLUMINATE IT IN THE DARK.

ON THE SURFACE,

SAVITSKY SEES
THE AMERICAN SHIP SIGNALING.

HE HAS HIS SIGNALING OFFICER
REPLY,

IDENTIFYING HIS SOVIET SUBMARINE

AND ASKING THE U. S. FORCES TO
STOP THEIR PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS.

WITH THE REALIZATION
THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE THREAT,

SAVITSKY USES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO RECHARGE HIS BATTERIES.

WHEN THEY ARE FULLY CHARGED,

SAVITSKY SUBMERGES

AND BREAKS AWAY
FROM THE DESTROYERS.

BUT THE OTHER THREE SUBMARINES
ARE STILL AT LARGE.

PURSUED BY THE CARRIER
USS ESSEX,

B- 130'S THREE ENGINES
BREAK DOWN.

THEY LIMP AS FAR AS THE AZORES
ON ONE REBUILT ENGINE

BEFORE IT ALSO GIVES OUT.

WE HAVE A HIT.
1,000 YARDS. BEARING 2-1-5.

A U. S. DESTROYER SPOTS

AND BEGINS TO ESCORT B-36
OUT OF THE AREA.

B- 36 MANAGES TO ESCAPE
WITH A DEEP DIVE.

SOVIET SUBMARINE B-4
MAY HAVE BEEN DETECTED,

BUT IS NEVER LOCATED
AND FORCED TO SURFACE.

IN THE END,

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
IS RESOLVED BY COMPROMISE.

KHRUSHCHEV AGREES TO REMOVE

THE OFFENDING MISSILES
FROM CUBA.

BUT JFK'S TOUGH TALK
HIDES HIS CONCESSIONS.

IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE WIN

BECAUSE WE CONCEAL THE FACT
THAT THERE'S REALLY A DEAL.

THE REAL DEAL

IS THAT WE REMOVE THE MISSILES
IN ITALY AND TURKEY.

ONCE THAT'S THE CASE,

KHRUSHCHEV HAS ELIMINATED

THE IMMEDIATE THREAT
THAT BOTHERS HIM.

AT THE TIME,

THE AMERICANS DID NOT KNOW
HOW CLOSE THEY CAME

TO A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE.

IT TAKES DECADES

BEFORE THE U. S. LEARNS ABOUT
THE TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS

ABOARD THE SOVIET SUBMARINES.

IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

IT WAS MORE DANGEROUS
THAN WE THOUGHT-

NOT BECAUSE KENNEDY
AND KHRUSHCHEV AND CASTRO

WERE LUNATICS,

BUT BECAUSE OF
THESE DEVELOPMENTS

THAT THEY COULD NOT CONTROL.

IN THE MOMENTS OF TENSION,

MALFUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT,
LACK OF INFORMATION,

PEOPLE COULD ACT RATIONALLY
FOR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES,

LEADING TO COMPLETELY
IRRATIONAL, TRAGIC OUTCOMES.

ALL THE SOVIET SUBMARINES

RETURN TO THE USSR BY DECEMBER.

THEIR MISSION WAS REGARDED
AS A FAILURE.

INSTEAD OF HEROES
WHO AVOIDED A NUCLEAR WAR,

SOME FELT THE CAPTAINS
SHOULD HAVE USED

THEIR NUCLEAR TORPEDOES.

ACCORDING TO ALL
THE COMMANDERS THAT I TALKED TO,

WHAT MATTERS IS THAT
THEY VIOLATED THEIR ORDERS.

SO THEY'RE COMING BACK,

AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"HOW... HOW EMBARRASSING.

YOU VIOLATED YOUR ORDERS.

YOU HUMILIATED THE FLEET."

THE RECEPTION
WAS VERY UNFRIENDLY.

THE SOVIET SUBMARINES
CONFIRM THE REAL RISKS

POSED BY JUST THE PRESENCE
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS...

THE THREAT FROM
INDIVIDUAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS,

OR EVEN MISTAKES.

THE STORY OF B-59

REVEALS THE HUMAN
VULNERABILITIES

THAT COULD ULTIMATELY
BRING US ALL

TO THE BRINK OF WAR.