[Nutbutter]

With fears that Iran may attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Navy may call upon the underwater mine-detecting capabilities of dolphins to keep important oil shipments moving safely out of the Persian Gulf.

According to The Atlantic, the Iranian military could try closing the straight with armed boats, anti-ship missiles or underwater mines.

If mines are employed, it's possible the U.S. could get help detecting them from the natural sonar capabilities of dolphins, according to NPR.

In a recent interview, retired Admiral Tim Keating told NPR's Tom Bowman that dolphins could lend a flipper in America's fight to keep commerce flowing.

From NPR:

BOWMAN: The surveillance includes sophisticated drone aircraft and a sophisticated mammal.
KEATING: We've got dolphins. And how lovable is Flipper? But they are astounding in their ability to detect underwater objects.


But not everyone is on board with the idea of enlisting dolphins in a possible military conflict.


Animal rights activists have sent petitions to the Defense Department warning that the use of dolphins in this manner puts the mammals' lives in danger, The Atlantic noted. According to the activists, the dolphins would be treated as "enemies" by opposing forces and could also be killed as they search for mines.

Dolphins aren't the only sea mammals employed by America's armed forces to help sniff out danger. Last year, ABC reported that whales and sea lions have also been used to hunt for mines.

Though, perhaps instead of aiding military missions, dolphins could teach us about how to resolve conflicts peacefully. In 2010, Science Daily reported that dolphins use diplomacy when they communicate.

[Steve]

Can't we all just get along? errrrrrrrrrr nope.

[aintthatathing]

So long and thanks for all the fish

[Blewvane]

Maybe America may consider emptying their jails by making criminals join a punishment battalion, that way they could send their human garbage into other countries to fight. If and when they are killed it matters very little, and they could have the prisoners clear the mines too.

[Azimuth]

Military dolphins are confined in captivity, which
can cause them extreme mental and physical stress.
This suffering has been revealed in dolphins kept in
marine parks and dolphinariums through aggression,
lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality than
in the wild.


The US-Navy are reported to have trained dolphins
to patrol harbours to report any unusual occurrences
to their trainers, to detect and mark objects such as
mines and probably to plant mines on ships. It is also
assumed, although denied by the Navy itself, that
dolphins have been trained to attack foreign divers
and kill them. This could be practiced for example
by placing equipment over the animals head with a
carbonic acid bullet linked to an injection needle which
is released when the diver comes into contact with the
dolphins beak.


Meanwhile dolphins from the US Navy have been
used in various parts of the world such as in the Baltic
Sea,
Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, the Persian Gulf, Vietnam
and were recently used in the Iraq war. It is believed
that the animals are trained for special tasks, not any
animal is trained to perform all activities. The animals
are deployed from ships and helicopters. It is assumed
that the infrastructure of modern vessels` therefore has
to be set up to make the handling, care and transport
of these animals possible, an expensive effort.


I'm not sure I agree with the use of dolphins for military reasons. So many questions.

Edit to add: Oh yeah, that ^ is from an article written by/for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society entitled Dolphins Exploited for Military Purposes.

[Blewvane]

But the US Navy uses SEALS as well........

[Azimuth]

Originally Posted by Blewvane ↗

Maybe America may consider emptying their jails by making criminals join a punishment battalion, that way they could send their human garbage into other countries to fight. If and when they are killed it matters very little, and they could have the prisoners clear the mines too.

Well ya, but would they give a shit and actually do their job? Probably not.

[Azimuth]

Originally Posted by Blewvane ↗

But the US Navy uses SEALS as well........

Wa -- Wa -- Wahh. (you have to sing it)

[.408Cheytac]

Originally Posted by Blewvane ↗

Maybe America may consider emptying their jails by making criminals join a punishment battalion, that way they could send their human garbage into other countries to fight. If and when they are killed it matters very little, and they could have the prisoners clear the mines too.

What are we going to do with 500,000 drug dealers?

[fattubbashit]

Now the "dont ask , dont say" policy is gone , or whatever it was called sent in a battallion of Viagra armed U.S. army gays with a license to rape and kill enemies.That'll fuck'em!!