Dolphins- The War's Underwater Heroes (Short read/NEAT pictures)

The Herald Sun ^ | 03.26.03 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

War's underwater heroes

26mar03

Underwater heroes: Dolphins – trained to seek out mines – are working in the southern Iraq port city of Umm Qasr to protect coalition ships.

THEY are the underwater heroes of the modern war. Dolphins – trained to seek out mines – are working in the southern Iraq port city of Umm Qasr to protect coalition ships.

Heading home: Sgt Justin Roberts escorts K-Dog, a bottle-nose dolphin belonging to Commander Task Unit, back to the well deck and holding areas aboard the USS Gunston Hall operating in the Gulf.

Dolphins use their biological sonar to search specific areas.

Dolphins' "biological" sonar works in poor acoustic conditions that electronic sonar does not.

A fin-mounted sensor records how often the dolphin uses its echo-location ability and how it "hears" the returning sonar.

If an object is found, the handler can have the animal recover it or mark it for a human diver.

[Conspiracy Guy]

True, most cats hate the water and swim very slowly.

[EYEWatchin]

What is the "poirpose" of all these posts?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Has Dr. Doolittle been deployed, yet?

No, but I just read in the paper today that the veternarian who trained the War Dogs in WWII, retrained them to be household peds after the war, established a memorial for them, and wrote a book about them just died. His name was William W. Putney, and his book was titled "Always Faithful: a Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII". He credited a dog for saving his life in the Pacific Islands (the dog was killed by a sniper's bullet meant for Putney.) The obituary was interesting, but it is not available for posting from our local newspaper.

[Salman]

Our allies. But will stand by them in their war against the sharks?

[k2blader]

Good post! :-)

*Plunking nickel in the can*

[Conspiracy Guy]

Could someone post a pis of the water skiing squirrel? That is funny!

[Diddle E. Squat]

"Nya-ay-ak-ay-ak nya-ay-ak nya-ay-ak-ay-ak-ay-ak..."

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Wonderful... really interesting. I may check into it, further. Thanks for the info.

[Diddle E. Squat]

What are the mimes doing under water in the first place.

I think it is a new Olympic sport...

[WillVoteForFood]

Hell, lets drive the Baathists to the sea, then have a bunch of dolphins equipped with tiny fin-mounted rockets leap out on cue and finish the job ;0).

[Spirited]

Since I had not seen anything of this I thank the poster most sincerely. Bump for the later crews..

[Conspiracy Guy]

We go from underwater mimes to Baptists. What are we smoking today. Meet me at the Mothership.

[afraidfortherepublic]

[afraidfortherepublic]

[mel]

First time for me too. Thanks

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Baathists are not Baptists!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thank you... I will be on the lookout for it. I think my in-laws would enjoy this book.

[Dysart]

Something's fishy here.

[amused]

Dolphins, seals and pigeons... it's a virtual menagerie. Has Dr. Doolittle been deployed, yet?

Reports of battle elephants appear dated ;-)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Battle Elephants... conjures up images of Battleships, for me.

Also, I did hear something about monkeys and landmines... but, I do not know if that is a true story, a rumor, or someone's sick joke, using a play on words.