In March 1968, the Soviet ballistic missile submarine K-129 vanished into the depths of the North Pacific. While the Soviets searched in vain, the U.S. government—armed with secret acoustic data of the sub's implosion—hatched one of the most audacious covert operations in history: Project Azorian.

To keep the mission hidden from the world, the CIA partnered with billionaire Howard Hughes to build the Hughes Glomar Explorer, a massive vessel disguised as a commercial deep-sea mining ship. Join host Tom McKenzie as we dive deep into:

• The Disappearance: How acoustic sensors located a wreck three miles deep.
• The Cover Story: The elaborate ruse involving Howard Hughes and the "Moon Pool".
• The Recovery: The mechanical triumph (and partial failure) of lifting a nuclear sub from the ocean floor.
• The Legal Legacy: How journalist Harriet Ann Phillippi fought for transparency, leading to the famous "Glomar Response".

From the solemn burial of Soviet sailors at sea to the declassified files that still hold redacted secrets, this episode explores the thin line between historical fact and Cold War legend.

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🎧 Unexplained History explores the myths, mysteries, and misunderstood moments that shaped our world. Hosted by Tom Mackenzie and Don Masterson. New episodes every week.
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History, Mystery, True Crime, Conspiracy, Paranormal, CIA, Cold War, Ancient Aliens, Archaeology, Unsolved, Supernatural, Tom McKenzie, Audio Drama, Storytelling, Documentaries.

This episode includes AI-generated content.