Do Dolphins Search for Mines? ...Veteran "Navy Agents" Also Served in the Iraq War

The U.S. Navy is seeking ways to clear mines (explosives placed underwater) in order to open up the Strait of Hormuz. While several advanced technologies are under discussion, it is reported that Navy dolphins are also being considered. Dolphins, which use sonar to track targets and possess high intelligence, are ideally suited for mine detection. The U.S. Navy has been training dolphins since the Vietnam War era and even deployed them in actual operations during the Iraq War in 2003.

A U.S. military dolphin undergoing training in 2023. U.S. Marine Corps

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On April 19 local time, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the U.S. Navy is preparing mine removal equipment to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Typically, the Navy deploys specialized vessels and helicopters designed for mine removal, launches remote platforms from unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), or uses unmanned underwater vehicles to locate and destroy mines. Highly trained Navy divers may also be assigned to direct demolition missions. However, this time, it is reported that "Navy dolphins" are also being prepared.

In fact, dolphins have been classified as a "mine removal asset" by the U.S. Navy for decades. In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, the U.S. military launched the "U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program" (NMMP) to train dolphins as "mine hunters." Dolphins use echolocation to track prey underwater and have an average IQ of 70 to 80, making them exceptionally intelligent creatures. They can identify mines, remember their locations, and in some cases even retrieve them on command, demonstrating remarkable potential.

Dolphins are trained using a method where they receive food as a reward upon completing a mission. U.S. Navy Museum website

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Today, Navy dolphins train alongside sailors at naval bases in the U.S. mainland. The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is known to be the most suitable candidate for these missions.

A military sea lion undergoing an auditory test. The U.S. Navy is known to invest considerable resources in the welfare and health of marine animals used for mine detection. U.S. Navy Museum website

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Dolphins have already been deployed in real combat. During the 2003 Iraq War, the U.S. military sent numerous dolphin "agents," including Tacoma, Makai, Jefe, Khalili, Kona, and Punani, to the Iraqi coast. These dolphins were assigned the task of searching for mines laid by Iraqi forces. Their efforts reportedly enabled British warships to arrive in Iraq in time to deliver relief supplies.

According to a thesis published after the war by James Madison University, dolphins searched 913 nautical miles (about 1,690 km) of ocean over several weeks following the outbreak of the Iraq War, examined 237 objects, and recovered or directly destroyed more than 100 mines. After the Iraq War, it was reported that the U.S. military owns at least 120 "Navy marine mammals," consisting of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and sea lions.

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