Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

[Klaralven]

Situated just 20 miles from Seattle, Naval Base Kitsap houses America's most powerful and secret deterrents, a weapon that is the first line of defense for U.S. national security: U.S. Navy dolphins.

Since 1967, the Navy has been training dolphins and sea lions (and probably other marine life) for military applications such as mine clearing, force protection and recovery missions. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program deployed military dolphins as early as the Vietnam War and as recently as the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

When protecting harbors and ships from mines, as they do at Naval Base Kitsap, the dolphins use their extraordinary biological sonar to detect hazards beneath the surface, whether tethered to the sea floor or buried beneath sediment.

If a mine or other weapon is detected, the dolphin returns to its handler, who gives the animal a buoy to mark the location of the device on the surface. Passing ships know to avoid these markers while Navy explosives ordnance disposal divers neutralize the threat below.

For protection against enemy divers, dolphins will swim up to the infiltrator, bump into them and place a buoy device on their back or a limb using their mouth. The buoy then drags the outed diver to the surface for easy capture. When trained sea lions perform the same maneuver, they use a kind of handcuff with their mouths to attach the buoy.

Since Bangor, Washington, now houses the largest single nuclear weapons site in the world, it needs protection from all sides, including the seaward side. That's where the Navy's dolphin pods and sea lions come in. Navy spokesman Chris Haley says the animals have been defending the waters around the stockpile, holding roughly 25% of the United States’ 9,962 nuclear warheads, since 2010.

https://www.military.com/history/militarized-dolphins-protect-almost-quarter-of-us-nuclear-stockpile.html

[XanaDUer2]

1. Militarized animals. I'm over humans

We, pretty much, deserve what we get

[sarisataka]

2. Humans have militarized animals

For over three thousand years. Probably much longer.

[Klaralven]

5. It may be why we tamed wolves

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Well, they don't know the context of what they're being asked to do ... so there's that

I think it's actually pretty badass overall, them helping us like this ... thinking also of the skill of the trainers/handlers. Dolphins clearly like us, and want to be our friends ... rather they're out there sniffing out mines and probably being well-treated vs. stuck in some fucking trawlers dragnet, suffocating.

Though I'm also over humans generally

[haele]

11. I know some sailors who work with marine mammals.

I've been told that they're the most volunteer military members around.
If they get tired of playing harbor protector or mine finder, dolphins have been observed bringing younger dolphins to the pens to get aquainted with the trainers, and then just disappear. They'll also bring sick dolphins over.
Trainers cannot abuse them, either. The dolphins will take care of a problem trainer quicker than the trainer can be rescued.
Sea Lions are a bit more laid back, but again, they can be testy and outweigh most trainers by three times the body weight. If you piss them off, they can do serious damage.
And both dolphins and sea Lions are in pens that are pretty easy to get out of. Lots of late night visiting has been known to happen, both in other pens and out in the ocean.

They're pretty much happy to be in a safe area where there's plenty of food and attention.

Haele

[Hekate]

15. Fascinating. Thanks.

[Hekate]

9. Horses were used for warfare in Eurasia 6,000 years back. You name it, humans used it. nt

[Boomerproud]

10. Exactly. My gggrandfather was in the Indiana Calvary

in the Civil War. The more I read his war records the sadder I feel about the poor horses. They suffered terribly.

[cinematicdiversions]

18. Hannibal did cross the alps with elephants 🐘

I mean horses have been used in war for a while.

[underpants]

4. I've never understood how they can wear football helmets

with no chinstrap

[Angleae]

12. Super glue

[Throck]

6. Narwhals are a natural.

[img][/img]

[roamer65]

7. Seals are smart animals.

I enjoyed diving around them 20 years ago in British Columbia.

Wonderful animals.

[Goonch]

8. ;-{)🖖‍

[Ace Rothstein]

13. Next thing you'll tell me is that there are sharks with freakin' laser beams attached to their heads

[Hugh_Lebowski]

16. I only asked for one thing ... (nt)

[bahboo]

14. I'm waiting for a sea horse cavalry....

[Shellback Squid]

17. Cetaceans with scimitars??

[HipChick]

19. Hate that dolphins are being used this way