"The Covert CIA Project to Recover the Sunken Soviet Ballistic Missile Submarine in 1974”

Mike Clancy, ret. Director of Navy Tech & Scientific Meteorology & Oceanography Center

This presentation is on the CIA project to covertly recover the sunken Soviet ballistic missile submarine, K-129. The K-129 went down with all hands approximately 1,600 miles northwest of Hawaii in 1968 at a location unknown to the Soviets. Using underwater surveillance technology, the U.S. Navy was able to determine where the submarine sank within about 6 miles. Subsequently, the Navy submarine Halibut was able to find and photograph the K-129, more than 3 miles down on the ocean floor. This enabled a secret recovery operation, launched in 1974, using a remarkable ship built specifically for this task, the Glomar Explorer. This was one of the most exciting, complex, secretive, expensive and potentially rewarding intelligence gathering operations of the 20th Century. The marine technology it employed in the attempt to recover the submarine was like nothing seen before or since. And, there are several aspects of the operation that connect with the Monterey area. Our speaker will also present his novel theory on the root cause of the K-129 disaster.

Mike Clancy has degrees in oceanography and meteorology, held positions with Science Applications International (SAI) and the Naval Research Lab. He was in the top civilian position as Technical & Scientific Director of the Navy Fleet Numerical Meteorology & Oceanography Center (FNMOC) in Monterey. Clancy has authored over 100 publications, and has the Navy’s highest civilian award for Distinguished Civilian Service. He is in the FNMOC Hall of Fame.