Chronological view

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Step 7 of 14 · Monday 22 October 1962

Kennedy tells the world

In a televised address at 7 pm, Kennedy reveals the missiles, announces the quarantine and warns that any missile launched from Cuba will be met with a full retaliatory response against the Soviet Union.

  • US forces go to DEFCON 3.
  • The Navy plans the quarantine line 800 nautical miles from Cuba.
  • Families are evacuated from Guantánamo Bay.
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  • United States
  • Soviet Union
  • Submarine
  • R-12 range, ~1,900 km
  • R-14 range, ~4,000 km
  • Planned quarantine line, 800 nmi

On the map

United States

  • USS Essex · Heading for the quarantine line
  • USS Newport News · Heading for the quarantine line
  • USS Enterprise · Windward Passage

Soviet Union

  • Aleksandrovsk · Racing to reach Cuba before the quarantine
  • Kimovsk · Carrying R-14 missiles
  • Yuri Gagarin
  • Poltava
  • B-59 · Foxtrot submarine with a nuclear torpedo
  • B-130 · Foxtrot submarine

Ship positions are approximate and show the situation of the day, not exact tracks.

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