Soviet submarine carrying
nuclear warheads that sank in the
Pacific Ocean on March 11, 1968. Soviet officials suspected that the sub was struck by an
American submarine, the
USS Swordfish. That sub would later check into a dock in
Japan to repair a bent periscope. A secret
CIA led operation later raised sensitive parts of the sunken sub. American officials denied any involvement in the sinking of K-129 but did give the Russian government a videotape of a burial at sea for six Russian crew recovered from the vessel.
Some believe that the American sub
USS Scorpion was sunk two months later by the Soviets in retaliation for K-129.
The memory of the K-129 sinking colors Russian perception of the
Kursk sinking of August 2000.