Few NATO intelligence analysts could peek into the Iron Curtain and live to tell the tale. Nevertheless, CIA operatives continuously spied on the latest Soviet developments and shared their findings with the Pentagon.In mid-1969, a team of operatives made a unique discovery while passing through the Neva River. They spotted a small, modern submarine tied up at Leningrad’s old Sudomekh Submarine Shipyard. The submarine was over 79 meters in length and had a unique streamlined hull that featured a peculiar attribute – it was highly reflective.As the days went by, the CIA concluded the Soviets had achieved the unthinkable: they had developed the world’s smallest submarine, made entirely of titanium, making it lighter and three times stronger than conventional steel submarines.The analysts knew that taking down the Soviet’s titanium submarine at sea would be no easy feat. No US torpedo possessed the necessary capacity or speed to destroy it. Unfortunately, they were right…