Howell torpedo at Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Wash
There are dolphins in the Navy?
Let’s get by that question with a resounding yes and move on.
The find is an extremely rare torpedo called a Howell. The weapon is marked with USN No. 24 and dates back nearly 130 years. The fish was on the cutting edge of technology in its time for several reasons.
The torpedo was self-propelled, eleven feet long and there were less than 100 made.
Now back to how dolphins were involved. ”Dolphins naturally possess the most sophisticated sonar known to man," the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific told the Los Angeles Times.
The man who leads the Navy program dealing with the mammals chimed in as well “we've never found anything like this, never."
The dolphins who found the gem near San Diego are named Ten and Spetz. The pair are being trained to find other things underwater, like mines.
After making the discovery they led Navy divers back to it.
The weapon was not a danger after its long stay in salt water and it has been recovered.
It will be slowly cleaned and have the salt water leached out of it so it can be put on display at the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington.
Navy dolphins, pretty cool huh? Be on the look-out for sharks with lasers.
