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Ukrainian Attack Dolphins Are On the Loose

Hugh Pickens writes "The Ukrainian Navy has a small problem on their hands. The Atlantic reports that, after rebooting the Soviet Union's marine mammal program last year with the goal of teaching dolphins to find underwater mines and kill enemy divers, three of the Ukrainian military's new recruits have gone AWOL. Apparently they swam away from their trainers ostensibly in search of a 'mate' out in open waters. It might not be such a big deal except that these dolphins have been trained to 'attack enemy combat swimmers using special knives or pistols fixed to their heads.' Dolphins were trained at Sevastopol for the Soviet Navy as far back as 1973 to find military equipment such as sea mines on the seabed as well as attacking divers and even carrying explosives on their heads to plant on enemy ships. The U.S. has its own dolphin program in San Diego with 40 trained dolphins and sea lions and another 50 in training. U.S. Navy dolphins were deployed in Bahrain in 1987 during a period when Iran was laying down mines in the Persian Gulf to disrupt oil shipments. No word yet on whether 'sharks with frickin' laser beams attached' have been added to the U.S. arsenal." Update: 03/14 14:55 GMT by T : Note that (as the Atlantic has updated their story reached via above link) while there really are militarized dolphins in use around the world, this particular story turns out to be an elaborate prank.

27 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Oh great by Looker_Device · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bad enough when you just had to worry about them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLEb-iCQqec&feature=player_embedded">raping you or beating you up. Now they have knives and landmines too?!?!? And they're from Ukraine, which probably means they're radioactive super-mutant dolphins too.

    The biggest pricks of the sea are now heavily armed, sex-crazed, mutated, and radioactive. Thanks Ukraine!

    --
    Your political party doesn't care about your rights and only represents corporate interests.
  2. Hoax by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Informative

    This entire thing is fabricated, anybody with 2 brain cells to rub together doesn't even need to RTFA, it's obvious from the summary but even from the headline.

    1. Re:Hoax by TheGothicGuardian · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hah, that's just what a militarily trained Ukrainian dolphin trying to throw us off his trail would say.

    2. Re:Hoax by Sulphur · · Score: 2

      This entire thing is fabricated, anybody with 2 brain cells to rub together doesn't even need to RTFA, it's obvious from the summary but even from the headline.

      That was the problem; their brain cells were rubbing together.

    3. Re:Hoax by kermidge · · Score: 2

      From what I read (three articles plus follow-up via search and more reading) and with the understanding that my reading comprehension may be questioned, they're not armed though they may have been trained at some point with some kind of offensive gear, and their 'escape' is apparently encompassed by some of them swimming off in search of mates or a desire to play hookey.

      U.S. Navy also apparently looked into various possible ways to arm the beasties but later decided not to do so. In fact, a recent article (I don't have the link; look for it if you're interested - it's within the past week, I think) says the Navy is shutting down the whole dolphin program in favor of robotic submersibles and other measures.

    4. Re:Hoax by mcgrew · · Score: 2

      You really should start your medication, boy. Then read the fucking article, which says this is common and expected behavior. Of course, if it had been anything but the Register it wouldn't be blowing it so much out of proportion. Here are a few better links to the same story, by less disreputable sources:

      New York Daily News
      Atlantic Wire
      Herald Sun (Australia)
      Huffington Post
      Slate (Slate credits BoingBoing)

      Google News is full of them. There was one story by a business blog that questioned its authenticity on Google's list of stories from the search term "Ukraine dolphins"

  3. Their last message by Peter+Simpson · · Score: 5, Funny

    "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

  4. old story on wired by schneidafunk · · Score: 3, Informative
    --
    Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
  5. Re:Haox by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    This was a hoax or Fox news sucks at news

    Tough choice... can we pick both?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  6. I need a Sino-logic 16, Sogo 7 Data Gloves, ... by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are these war-surplus dolphins addicted to heroin?

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:I need a Sino-logic 16, Sogo 7 Data Gloves, ... by mjwx · · Score: 2

      Are these war-surplus dolphins addicted to heroin?

      They've already been caught and turned into John West Tuna.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  7. Once again the Simpsons predicted it. by BLToday · · Score: 4, Funny

    Once again the Simpsons predicted it.

    I, for one, welcome our new dolphin overloads.

  8. April 1st by watermark · · Score: 2

    April 1st is still a few weeks away

  9. Quick! by Idou · · Score: 2

    We must arm sharks with lasers!

    --
    Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
  10. Re:Lemme guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not reading TFA is standard procedure here, but you didn't even finish the summary.

  11. Re:What else would you believe? by lfourrier · · Score: 2

    The headline : "French president has revealed his plan for a balanced budget and a trade balance that does not involve more taxes" is perfectly believable.
    The plan in itself, that's another story.

  12. Re:Ballistics by oodaloop · · Score: 2

    Well, the gun Dolphins won't be too much of a danger unless they're right on you, thanks to underwater ballistics. The knifers, oh shit.

    Do knives have longer ranges underwater?

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  13. NRA Response by guttentag · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm waiting for the NRA to use this in its lobbying, pointing out that it's easier for a dolphin in the Ukraine to legally acquire a gun than for a human in the U.S. They may take it a step further and claim that there is an ever-growing need for assault weapons at the beach now that foreign countries are arming their wildlife and setting them free in the ocean.

    1. Re:NRA Response by eeyoredragon · · Score: 2

      The only answer to a bad guy with a gun is a dolphin with a gun!

  14. as has been said... by dAzED1 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Not only does the headline say it was a hoax, the very first line says it was a hoax.

    Update! Sad news, friends. It turns out that one piece of the Ukrainian dolphin story is, in fact, a hoax.

    The "one piece" is the idea that they were trained to kill, and that they escaped. So other than they not being killer, nor escaped, yes - there are dolphins. Good job, "Unknown Lamer"

    1. Re:as has been said... by Graydyn+Young · · Score: 2

      You just ruined my day. Couldn't you just let me believe in the Ukrainian murder dolphins?

  15. The D Team -Starring Dolph Lundgren, I'm thinking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In 1972 a crack dolphin commando unit was sent to Sea World by a military court for a crime they didn't commit.

    These mammals promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underwater.
    Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as dolphins of fortune.

    If you have a problem - if no one else can help - and if you can find them - maybe you can hire... The D-Team.

  16. Perhaps Douglas Adams Was Right by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 2

    Apparently they swam away from their trainers ostensibly in search of a 'mate"' out in open waters.

    Dolphins make love, not war. Mabye they really are the smartest creatures on earth.

  17. Day of The Dolphin by lemur3 · · Score: 2

    there was a book.. and film about dolphins that were trained to talk and in some way involved in an assassination attempt on the president of the USA.

    ive never read the book.. and the movie wasnt all that great..

    its worth a look if youre in to 70s stuff!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Dolphin

    After the dolphins are kidnapped, an investigation by an undercover government agent for hire, Curtis Mahoney (Paul Sorvino) reveals that the Institute is planning to further train the dolphins to carry out a political assassination by having them place a limpet mine on the hull of the yacht of the President of the United States.

  18. A hoax by matrim99 · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
    Right. No, your other right. No, the other other right.
    1. Re:A hoax by nyri · · Score: 2

      Everybody! Ignore this guy with stupid facts and continue with killer mutant dolphin jokes!

  19. Re:Ballistics by SteinzoTheGreat · · Score: 2

    Given the choice to be able to swim like a Navy SEAL or a Harbor Seal, I think I would choose the latter . . .

    --
    How very self-centered some people can be; they think of themselves, instead of me! - L. Baird