The Cuban Missile Crisis

Description

1962—American spy planes spot launch ramps in Cuba that are designed for nuclear missiles. President Kennedy orders that the island be blockaded in order to inspect any ships wishing to dock there. On October 26, Khrushchev tells Kennedy that he will continue his action: “If the United States want war, we shall find ourselves in hell.” The CIA informs the American president that 24 Russian missiles are now operational and pointing at precise locations in the country. Off the coast of Cuba, the U.S. Navy confronts the Russian fleet and is hunting down Russian submarines. Two of them break surface, but a third remains submerged, refusing to come up. Three exercise charges are dropped to emphasize the order to surface. Moscow orders its vessel to react. A nuclear torpedo is loaded into launch tube number one. The captain of the Russian submarine finally decides not to fire his nuclear torpedo. On October 29, 1962, the U.S.S.R. backs down and withdraws its ships. It promises to dismantle all its installations in Cuba if the United States makes a commitment not to attack the island. Nuclear war is narrowly avoided.

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26 min 0 sec

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