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Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

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Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#51
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think I can believe most but that part is really weird: > 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 Imagine if we d…

World War II , anti-tank dogs (dogs with AT mines strapped to their backs).

If memory serves, the story goes that the soviets trained their dogs with soviet tanks - so when they released the dogs into battle, they turned around and ran for their own tanks.

Possibly apocryphal, but quite funny.

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#52
post #9

All these links and no 'Johnny Mnemonic' reference. Takes place in 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mnemonic_(film)

Can't say I recall anything dolphin-related in the film.

But The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou had a comedic military dolphin element.

"Son of a bitch,

I'm sick of these dolphins."

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#53
"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." I mean come on, "enemy divers" will just kill the dolphins or avoid contact with them..

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#54

"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." I mean come on, "enemy divers" will just kill the dolphins or avoid contact with them..

Imagine trying to kill or avoid a shark while diving... Where is it? Which direction is it coming from? How fast is it coming? How far can you see in this water, because it can "see" you with its non-visual senses...

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#56
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think I can believe most but that part is really weird: > 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 Imagine if we d…

We might never know what is currently in use, but I'm convinced that any wild and wacky idea has been tried by somebody. Some fun ones off the top of my head: - Meet Wojtek the bear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(bear) - AT-Dogs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-tank_dog - Ships made of ice and saw dust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Habakkuk - Funny tanks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobart%27s_F…

My contribution to your already wonderful list: The Bat Bomb, aka Project X-Ray https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_bomb

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#57
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

World War II , anti-tank dogs (dogs with AT mines strapped to their backs).

If memory serves, the story goes that the soviets trained their dogs with soviet tanks - so when they released the dogs into battle, they turned around and ran for their own tanks. Possibly apocryphal, but quite funny.

It wasn't so much about the design of the tank as I recall. Instead it was about one side using diesel tanks, with the other side using gasoline in their tanks. The dogs turned out to be trained on the smell of the fuel, which caused them to be attracted to the wrong vehicles.

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#59

"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." I mean come on, "enemy divers" will just kill the dolphins or avoid contact with them..

I think you are overestimating how well a diver can maenouver under water in comparison to a dolphin.

Re: Militarized Dolphins Protect Almost a Quarter of the US Nuclear Stockpile

#60
post #27
post #12

These days you can't believe anything unless an official source is provided. This is it: https://www.niwcpacific.navy.mil/marine-mammal-program/

I think I can believe most but that part is really weird: > 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 Imagine if we d…

Well, I mean dogs are widely and effectively used in law enforcement. Perhaps dolphins are just the equivalent of aquatic dogs.
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