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It is the stuff of science fiction. A giant whirlpool, spanning hundreds of kilometres, suddenly appears in the ocean, threatening anything in its path.
But now, after the declassification of a Chinese operation, it appears this particular whirlpool was all too real. And it could be the explanation behind an international incident involving an American nuclear-powered submarine.
In September 2021, a massive operation was launched by China to hunt and record an enormous whirlpool, more than 200km (124 miles) across, which appeared to the east of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
China’s most advanced research vessel and the largest drone fleet ever assembled were sent to conduct comprehensive tracking of this vortex from the air, sea surface and under water.
Around the same time, the USS Connecticut, a Seawolf-class, nuclear-powered fast attack submarine operated by the US Navy, was also in the area.
On October 2, 2021, it hit an unknown object and had to make an emergency breach. It suffered serious damage, with repairs ongoing to this day.