Remembering the man who single-handedly saved the world.

Arkhipov was second-in-command aboard the Soviet submarine B-59 which was patrolling near Cuba. The submarine was armed with a nuclear-tipped torpedo.

On 27 October 1962, US Navy ships – unaware that B-59 carried nuclear weapons – began dropping practice depth charges to force it to the surface. Inside B-59, conditions were dire: no contact with Moscow, extreme heat, low oxygen, and high stress. The crew feared that war might have already begun above the surface between the USA and the USSR.

The sub’s captain, Valentin Savitsky, believed they were under attack and wanted to launch the nuclear torpedo and attack the USS Randolph, an Essex-class aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the US antisubmarine task group.  According to Soviet navy protocol, all three senior officers on board had to agree before firing. If B-59 had attacked Randolph with its nuclear torpedo, all-out nuclear war and global holocaust would undoubtedly have followed.

 Alone of the three officers, Vasily Arkhipov refused to consent. He argued for surfacing and awaiting orders instead of firing. His calm but firm stance persuaded the others to stand down.

The world was saved.

Everybody alive today owes their existence to that one man.