The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed CIA-orchestrated attempt in April 1961 to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba. CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs but were poorly armed and only 1,100 of the 1,400 troops survived as they were defeated by Castro's forces in three days. The failed invasion strengthened Castro's power and the captured exiles were imprisoned for 20 months until a deal was reached between Castro and President Kennedy, who took responsibility for the failure.