Recent comments in /f/OldSchoolCool

dmitryredkin t1_jd7ac32 wrote

Regarding the "other captain": Arkhipov was a Chief of Staff of the Submarine Brigade, and thus wasn't in charge of the ship, but, being in a more senior position than the captain, managed to calm him down, while the latter was really ready to launch the torpedo.

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rhugghed t1_jd7421o wrote

I think he’s really actually goodlooking, just have some overly defining feature like his bug eyes, sorta like Bill Skaarsgard. But yeah, I think he’s goodlooking, he probably just don’t style himself in the “traditional handsome hollywood leading man” sense. Maybe he purposely do it because it adds to his character actor aura.

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sdnt_slave t1_jd7365r wrote

THIS is exactly why I don't believe there is a credible risk of Russia using a nuclear weapon. Even if its ordered there will be one person who refuses. History has shown that both times it could have happened it didn't.

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TheBlack2007 t1_jd6zrph wrote

Normally, on Soviet subs the order to launch nuclear weapons needed two approvals: That of the Captain and the Political Officer. IIRC Arkhipov was fleet Commander though and used the "attacked" submarine (when they tried running the blockade of Cuba the US Navy started pestering them with training depth charged to make them surface - which underwater felt like real ones) as his flagship. So launching a nuclear Torpedo on that particular ship required three approvals as to not override the most senior officer on board.

Chilling. Absolutely chilling to think about it.

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