PBS - Azorian The Raising of the K-129 (2009) Part 2

This documentary recalls a chapter in the history of the Cold War that remained a closely-guarded secret for over three decades. In 1968, as all eyes were fixed on the Space Race, the superpowers were playing chess in the world's oceans, with nuclear submarines their most powerful pieces. Consequently, when Russia's K-129 disappeared on its third patrol, both sides were keen to trace the wreck. Soviet efforts alerted the US, who triangulated reports of an underwater explosion and within months found the hulk. What followed was one of the most remarkable exploits of the Cold War, as the US planned to salvage the submarine – armed with nuclear torpedoes and ballistic missiles – to gain its secrets. Dubbed Azorian, the project was handled by the CIA rather than the Navy, but it took six years to come to fruition, as a unique salvage vessel had to be built to raise the hulk. The project was only partially successful, as the K-129 broke up as it was raised. What was recovered remains an official secret, but six bodies, heavily irradiated, were buried at sea with military honours, and a film of the ceremony was later handed to the Russians. CIA staff tell their story in their own words for this film, which includes footage of the wreck taken during the 1974 mission, and is the first full public account of the project.

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