"During the standoff, a Soviet submarine (B-59) was operating near Cuba, cut off from communication with Moscow. Believing war may have already begun, the crew prepared to act. They had a nuclear torpedo on board and could launch if they believed conflict had started."
"To force the submarine to surface, the U.S. dropped non-nuclear depth charges. Cut off and under pressure, the officers aboard B-59 faced a decision: should they launch? The launch required unanimous agreement from three senior officers. Two voted to fire. The third, Vasily Arkhipov, refused."
"Arkhipov insisted on surfacing and re-establishing communication before making a decision that could trigger global destruction. Arkhipov has since been credited with 'saving the world.'"
In October 1962, U.S. intelligence discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, prompting President Kennedy to demand their removal. A tense standoff ensued, with the U.S. surrounding Cuba to prevent further weapons. An agreement was reached where the Soviets would remove their missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade. A Soviet submarine, B-59, faced a critical decision during this crisis, with officer Vasily Arkhipov refusing to launch a nuclear torpedo, ultimately preventing potential global destruction.
Read at Psychology Today
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