US Navy's secret weapons: Dolphins and sea lions

The United States Navy utilizes specially trained dolphins and sea lions for support. The Pentagon reminds us that the Marine Mammal Program began about 60 years ago. These animals assist in detecting, locating, and recovering objects such as explosives, underwater drones, and enemy divers. They also protect submarines, a part of the US nuclear triad.

"Millions of years of evolution have given these animals exceptional skills and detection capabilities that cannot be replaced by any technology we have today and probably cannot be replaced by new technology we’re going to have for a long time," said Drew Walter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters. "They have this extraordinary ability to find objects amidst all of the noise, seaweed and low visibility environment," he added.

The dolphins and sea lions serving in the US Navy undergo training at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego, where they have been trained since at least 1959. Interestingly, the Americans initially explored the capabilities of sea turtles, birds, and even sharks. Ultimately, they chose two species: the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).

These animals are known for learning quickly and adapting easily to different aquatic environments. They have better hearing and vision than humans, allowing them to see even in murky and dark waters. They can also dive to great depths without risking decompression sickness. California marine mammals participated in the Vietnam War, among other conflicts. Their task was to detect enemy divers trying to blow up American warships anchored offshore. The dolphins swam nearby and warned trained sailors of potential danger by sending them signals.

According to the Pentagon, the animals trained at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific receive excellent care and access to high-quality food. They also undergo various tests regularly and receive the proper treatment if needed. Americans claim that dolphins serving in the US Navy live about twice as long as other dolphins, and the Navy's sea lions live about three times longer than those in the wild.

There are many legends surrounding the training of marine mammals. One of them spoke of killer US dolphins capable of carrying dangerous weapons. The US Navy denies these reports. Similar accusations are also often made against the Russians. After declassifying their dolphin and sea lion training program in the 1990s, the Russians began researching these animals and belugas. As we have already reported, the mammals protect, among other things, Russian bases in occupied Crimea. The Russians also value their echolocation abilities and their excellent swimming capabilities.

Studies have shown that bottlenose dolphins can reach speeds of about 18 mph in the water, whereas the best human swimmers can go about 6 mph. Dolphins can thus swim up to three times faster. Their intelligence is also noteworthy. The encephalization quotient, used to measure intelligence, is 4-5 for this species. In comparison, it is estimated to be 7 for humans and 2.5 for chimpanzees, commonly regarded as intelligent animals.