Azorian: The Raising Of The K-129 -

During the lift in August 1974, a mechanical failure in the claw caused two-thirds of the recovered section to break off and fall back to the ocean floor. Only about 38 feet of the bow section was successfully retrieved.

The U.S. sought to recover the submarine to gain insights into Soviet nuclear technology, sonar capabilities, and cryptographic materials. Azorian: The Raising of the K-129

Launched in 1974 under President Nixon, the operation was disguised as a deep-sea mining venture led by reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes . Technological and Operational Highlights During the lift in August 1974, a mechanical

The recovered section contained the remains of six Soviet sailors . In a rare act of wartime humanity, the U.S. gave them a formal military burial at sea with Soviet honors, filming the ceremony for history. Why It's a "Must-Watch" Azorian: The Raising of the K-129 (TV Movie 2010) - IMDb sought to recover the submarine to gain insights

The documentary (2010) chronicles one of the most ambitious and expensive covert operations of the Cold War: the CIA's secret attempt to recover a sunken Soviet ballistic missile submarine from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Core Premise and Historical Context

To maintain secrecy, the ship used a massive "moon pool" in its belly and a giant claw-like capture vehicle nicknamed " Clementine " to grab the sub.