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Military Dolphins Discover 1800s Torpedo

Posted by timothy on from the dolphins-what-can't-they-do? dept.

First time accepted submitter The0retical writes "A couple of mine-sweeping dolphins dredged up what is known as a 'Howell torpedo' dating from 1870 to 1889. Only 50 were ever produced, this being the second example known to exist. The 11-foot-long brass torpedo had a maximum range and speed of 400 yards at 25 knots. The new example will be displayed at Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Wash. alongside the only other example."

33 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. The unwritten story by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    What was left unsaid (by the dolphins) was how many times the critters have found 'unintended' things and not told their handlers about it, but instead squirreled it away to their underwater hideout, planning for the eventual overthrow of human kind. They just felt that since this was so old and unusable, there was no harm in telling the Navy guys.

    Besides, they were hungry and wanted a snack.

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    1. Re:The unwritten story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      but instead squirreled it away

      The squirrels are in on it too? Aww, nuts!
      -- posted from my radio tracking collar

    2. Re:The unwritten story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Sqeeeeek sqeAAAAK fffffZZZZZZZZZZZZZt ssssssssERK! click!"

      "Now we just need to wait around until we evolve hands, then THEY'RE DONE FOR!"

    3. Re:The unwritten story by NetNinja · · Score: 2

      So long and thanks for all the fish! If I had just one last wish, I would like a tasty fish. :)

    4. Re:The unwritten story by dbIII · · Score: 2

      Moose too Boris.

  2. A more informative article link by Fluffeh · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the LA times.

    Serious editors, that link is even provided at the bottom of the crappy summary article you folks pointed to - and it is MUCH more in-depth.

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    1. Re:A more informative article link by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Meant to be launched from above the water or submerged torpedo tubes, the Howell torpedo was made of brass, 11 feet long, driven by a 132-pound flywheel spun to 10,000 rpm before launch. It had a range of 400 yards and a speed of 25 knots.

      Clever design. The energy in the flywheel was used for propulsion, but it also created a gyroscopic effect that helped it track in a straight line.

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    2. Re:A more informative article link by Charliemopps · · Score: 2

      Thanks for that. It's an engineering work of art. Very impressive.

    3. Re:A more informative article link by jonfr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You are mistaken, there are no editors on Slashdot.

    4. Re:A more informative article link by adolf · · Score: 3, Informative

      Perhaps only clever in modern parlance; there was a time where flywheels were very, very common for energy storage. (And no, I don't mean the one between the engine in your car and the transmission.)

      That said: It spun at 10k RPM before launch, which also seems mighty nifty for the time until one realizes that the bearings only have to work once...

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    5. Re:A more informative article link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Somebody said that we should get Bucket, Cleverbot, Dante, A.L.I.C.E, ELIZA, Dr. Sbaitso, and all the other chat bots together and make out own site, used, controlled and ruled by chat bots.

      But we already have Reddit.

  3. Wait, dolphins? by Quinn_Inuit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We have mine-sweeping dolphins that actually find stuff? That strikes me as way more important than the torpedo. It's not that the torpedo is unimportant, but we've got one of those already.

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    1. Re: Wait, dolphins? by TheGreenNuke · · Score: 5, Informative

      They operate as part of the US Navy Marine Mammal Program In the early days of the program, various marine mammal species were considered including: killer whales, pilot whales, belugas (white whales), Steller sea lions, grey seals and fur seals. Other animals were used in various studies pertaining to locating personnel from downed aircraft and creating effective shark deterrents to protect them until they could be rescued.

    2. Re:Wait, dolphins? by 0123456 · · Score: 2

      The Soviet dolphin paratroopers mentioned in an article linked to by this one sound cooler to me though :).

  4. I've got one by gmhowell · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I've got a 'Howell torpedo' myself. Banned by the Geneva Convention as a weapon of mass destruction.

    --
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  5. Re:Underwater patents. by hairyfeet · · Score: 2

    Actually IIRC there were several patents in WWII that were given out in secret by the government for tech that the government deemed to much of a risk to allow to be filed publicly, they kept those patents on ice until they were no longer cutting edge military tech and then allowed those that had secretly filed them to profit from those war time inventions. IIRC a lot of them were early computer designs and things to do with computers that they were afraid the Russians would be able to copy after the war.

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  6. Redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously - there are only two in existence, so they're displayed side by side in the same museum?

    How wasteful is that? The US Navy has like a dozen museums, scattered all over the country. Why not share the bounty about a bit?

    1. Re:Redundancy by el+borak · · Score: 2

      Seriously - there are only two in existence, so they're displayed side by side in the same museum?

      The summary makes that claim, but the linked article does not, stating only that it "will likely be displayed in a museum as well."

      --
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  7. Re:50 or 2? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Only 50 were ever produced, this being the second example known to exist."

    If there are 50 produced, then there are 50 known to exist.

    There are 50 known to have existed, but many of them may no longer exist. See, torpedoes occasional blow themselves up, a minor design flaw that means they sometimes stop existing, at least in the form of a torpedo.

  8. False positives? by Kwyj1b0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The LA times report mentions that another dolphin had alerted them a few days ago, but the operator didn't send anyone to check it out because they didn't expect to find anything. Does the system have a large number of false positives?

    1. Re:False positives? by Runaway1956 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't read that as indicating any percentage of false positives. The operator was simply looking for something specific, within a definite area. He KNEW that certain items had been deposited within strictly defined areas. Because this item was found outside of those areas, he wasn't interested enough to investigate. Apparently he recorded and reported the "hit" because days later when another "hit" was made, it was investigated.

      In effect, "They've found something, but I don't think it's what we're looking for."

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  9. Re:Forget about the torpedo... by Deadstick · · Score: 2

    Why, ummm, yes, as far back as Vietnam.

  10. Makes no Sense by craigminah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So only two are known to exist? Why display them both at the same location? Do people who see one need to see the other or can you share your rare discovery with more than one museum? I'd think having the only two torpedoes of a type at the same location would risk losing them both if something were to happen to that facility (e.g. fire).

    1. Re:Makes no Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      From TFA: "The newly discovered Howell will likely be displayed in a museum as well.". In other words: it will likely not be displayed in the same museum.

  11. Re:Easier way. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dogs would be too busy trying to pee on everything to mark it,

    Dolphins pee on everything too, but they're sneakier about it.

  12. Missing H-bomb by approachingZero+ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe these dolphins could be used to locate the the missing Mark 15 nuclear bomb? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Tybee_Island_mid-air_collision

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    1. Re:Missing H-bomb by amiga3D · · Score: 2

      I think the Dolphins already found that one and are keeping it hidden away. Just in case they don't get their fish bonus. The navy better not hold out on them.

  13. Re:1800s has a specific meaning. by ceoyoyo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The world disagrees with you.

  14. Re:That sound you hear... by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't you mean steaming their pants?

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  15. Re:Don't forget the museum in Keypoint by AbrasiveCat · · Score: 2

    I highly recommend the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington. (Well only if you are into technology) There is a fair bit of history on display there. More than just weapons. http://www.navalunderseamuseum.org/

    I forgot, here is write up on the Howell torpedo. http://www.navalunderseamuseum.org/media/6c06204b6731dd48ffff8332ffffe906.pdf

  16. Re:Forget about the torpedo... by Bazman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why else do you think Dr Evil wanted sharks with frickin' laser beams?

  17. Re:Underwater patents. by amorsen · · Score: 2

    There are more than 5000 secret patents in the US today. See Invention Secrecy Act.

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  18. Re:50 or 2? by lxs · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's not a bug. It's a feature!