Old news but it's still interesting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anti-swimmer Dolphins Remain Ready to Defend
Story Number: NNS041119-07
Release Date: 11/19/2004 12:51:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Sarah Bibbs, Commander, U.S. 5th
Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit
(EODMU) 3, Det. 86, conducted demonstrations of their anti-swimmer
dolphin system Nov. 18-19, as part of their ongoing forward
presence mission in the Arabian Gulf.
The MK-6 Marine Mammal System (MMS), from Space and Naval Warfare
Systems Center, San Diego, is currently on its longest combat
deployment in history, providing valuable protection to Navy assets
in the region.
Due to their hydrodynamic shape and a highly effective biological
sonar system, the bottlenose dolphins are uniquely equipped to
detect, locate and mark underwater threat swimmers, divers, and
swimmer delivery vehicles, through a process called echolocation,
in which the dolphins emit broad-band high frequency clicks and
listen to the echoes of those clicks as they bounce off
objects.
They have natural abilities that no man-made machine can
duplicate, said Hull Technician 2nd Class (DV) Jayson Boyse, lead
mammal handler of EODMU 3, Det. 86. Theyre highly effective at
detecting and marking divers in the water.
The danger exists primarily for those whom the dolphins seek out,
Boyse said. They can be very harmful to divers or swimmers. If
someone were to get into the water near one of our high-value
assets, it wouldnt be a good place to be.
Even the MK-6 trainers are unable to swim with the dolphins, except
under carefully controlled conditions.
No matter how close the relationship, the handlers cant ignore
the dolphins wild instincts," said Lt. Kary Olson, MK-6 MMS
officer in charge. "They look like your average Sea World dolphin,
but theyre trained to a much higher level.
Through constant training, the handlers develop trust and
familiarity with the dolphins to achieve desired behaviors from the
animal, which in turn secures successful operations.
Physical care for the dolphins is a high priority for EODMU 3 Det.
86. Army veterinarian Maj. Brad Blankenship and biological
technician Daniel Peterson are assigned to MK-6 MMS to take care of
all the mammals needs.
These dolphins probably get more focused attention than any Sailor
would, said Peterson. They have a full clinic and a dedicated
team that gives them excellent, 24 hour attention.
Though the dolphins are on their longest combat deployment,
Blankenship said the duration of the operation has had no affect on
the dolphins operability.
They probably dont know the difference between San Diego and
here, he said. Their care is still the same, if not better, and
their job is still the same.
The healthy, highly trained mammals of MK-6 have the ability to
patrol waters at any hour, day or night, anywhere in the U.S. 5th
Fleet area of operations.
They can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the world, said
Boyse.
How much longer the team will stay in the area remains
undetermined. Coalition forces are constantly working to prevent
terrorist attacks in the region, and MK-6 MMS provides key
support.
We hope that by being out here, we wont have another incident
like we did in Yemen with the USS Cole (DDG 67), said
Blankenship.
