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### The K-19 Nuclear Submarine Disaster (1961): A Cold War Catastrophe
In the midst of the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched *K-19*, its first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, in a desperate race to match U.S. naval dominance. However, the vessel was rushed into service, plagued with design flaws and technical failures.
On July 4, 1961, while patrolling the North Atlantic, disaster struck. The primary coolant system of one of *K-19*’s two nuclear reactors failed, leading to a rapid rise in temperature. With no backup cooling system, the reactor was on the verge of **meltdown**-a catastrophe that could ha...