Final answer:
The USS Scorpion's disappearance is tied to Cold War fears of technology theft and showcases the critical role of submarines in modern warfare, particularly during the Cold War era. Submarines, like U-boats in WWI and ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War, served as strategic tools that influenced international relations and military strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historical Context of Submarine Warfare
The disappearance of the USS Scorpion in 1968 represents a worrying event during the height of the Cold War. In such an environment, stealing crucial technology from enemy nations was a significant threat. Submarine warfare evolved greatly over the years and played a strategic role in both World Wars and the Cold War.
During the First World War, submarines like the German U-boats patrolled war zones and posed significant threats to enemy and neutral shipping. The German practice of unrestricted submarine warfare, including incidents like the torpedoing of the Sussex, inflamed international tensions, particularly with the United States, leading to what became known as the Sussex Pledge.
In the context of the Cold War, submarines became instrumental in maintaining the balance of power between the superpowers. As depicted in Tom Clancy's novel “The Hunt for Red October”, submarines armed with ballistic missiles could theoretically provide a first-strike capability. Real-world confrontations, such as those during the Cuban Missile Crisis, underscored the constant brinksmanship and the pervasive fear of nuclear war. In response, both the Soviet Union and the United States maintained vast arsenals of nuclear weapons ready to deploy underwater, in silos, and in the air as part of their deterrence strategies.