<P> The Bay of Pigs Invasion ( Spanish : Invasión de Playa Girón or Invasión de Bahía de Cochinos or Batalla de Girón ) was a failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) - sponsored paramilitary group Brigade 2506 on 17 April 1961 . A counter-revolutionary military group ( made up of mostly Cuban exiles who traveled to the United States after Castro 's takeover , but also of some US military personnel ) , trained and funded by the CIA , Brigade 2506 fronted the armed wing of the Democratic Revolutionary Front ( DRF ) and intended to overthrow the increasingly communist government of Fidel Castro . Launched from Guatemala and Nicaragua , the invading force was defeated within three days by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces , under the direct command of Castro . </P>
what was the purpose of the bay of pigs mission
intended to overthrow the increasingly communist government of Fidel Castro