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.

[Saundra Duffy]

This is cool!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

"they have no idea that lives will be lost if they fail to perform tasks properly."

Uh... is PETA saying that animals are not as smart as humans? That must be a misquote, they usually say otherwise!

[uglybiker]

What about the cows? :-p

[FightforFreedomCA]

HA! funny :)

[Saundra Duffy]

They can't post this too many times. Want me to send you a quarter? LOL! For victory & freedom!!!

[Jonathon Spectre]

These are babies!
They're tiny babies!

Don't tell me that dolphin's not enjoying hunting scumbags. That is one smart dolphin. In the wild, he'd be a king.

[two23]

Not Long ago, Animal Planet (i think it was AP) did a segment on Animals in the military and specifically porpoises and seals. They are awesome. They were used in 'Nam to check the harbors for mines and explosives. Maybe AP will run it again soon.

[ibtheman]

When I was in the marine corp 83-87, I was stationed in Kanaohe Bay Marine Air Station, Oahu, HI. I was a battery operated grunt(radio operator, fac team,). If you took a strow over to air wing side of the base, you would come across a top secret navy training base strictly for training dolphins. I was very fortunate to be able to witness there training, and to actually see what they can do, it was awsome!I cannot tell you the details, but let me say this, If it is necessary, under certain prescribed conditions, the dolphin will actually ram it! To set it off!