Bay of Pigs Invasion

Bay of Pigs Invasion
Part of the Cold War
Cuban soldiers supported by T-34 tanks attacking near Playa Giron. April 19, 1961
Date 16 April 1961 - 19 April 1961 Location Bay of Pigs, southern coast of Cuba Result Decisive cuban military victory Operation Northwoods
Belligerents
United States	Cuba
Commanders and leaders
John F. Kennedy Charles P. Cabell Robert McNamara Maxwell D. Taylor Robert Kennedy Allen Dulles	Fidel Castro Ruz Ernesto Guevara Efigenio Ameijeiras Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado Eloy Gutiérrez
Units involved
Brigade 2506 CIA U.S Air Force	FAR MTT
Strength
1,500 ground forces 8 American B-26 bombers 5 supply ships	25,000 Cuban army 200,000 Cuban Militia 9,000 armed police (across the country)
Casualties and losses
Brigade 2506: 118 killed 360 wounded 1,202 captured United States: 4 killed 2 B-26 bombers shot down 2 supply ships lost	Cuban Army: 176 killed 500+ wounded Militia: 2,000 killed and wounded
class=notpageimage| Location within North America

The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an attempt in 1961 (during the Cold War) to remove Fidel Castro from power in Cuba. The CIA trained Cuban exiles and these exiles launched an attack in a bay called the Bay of Pigs.

The invasion was a failure and most of the attackers were captured or killed. There were several conflicts that led to this; including a lack of promised air support and a change in where the landing was to be launched. This was one of many unsuccessful attempts by the CIA to rid Cuba of Castro. One interesting fact is that the plan was originally put in motion by Eisenhower, but the attack was ordered by John F. Kennedy who only found out about the plan after his election.

Related pages

• Cuban Missile Crisis