Navy Dolphins Discover Rare 19th Century Torpedo by California Coast

The Navy has discovered a rare, 19^th century torpedo that's one of only two in existence. While this finding would itself be extraordinary, it's made all the more interesting due to what branch of the Navy actually found the antique--dolphins.

The US Navy actually employs trained dolphins and sea lions in order to scour the depths of the ocean in order to find mines, shipwrecks and enemy divers. In this case, a bottlenose dolphin, named Ten, found the brass torpedo during a routine patrol and reconnaissance training mission off of the coast of California, according to the Daily Mail.

The torpedo is an 11-foot-long brass construction called the Howell torpedo. It dates back 130 years and was one of the first torpedoes with the ability to propel itself. Only 50 of these torpedoes were made total, and only one other still exists. It was fired from above water or through submerged torpedo tubes, and could speed through the water at 25 knots before sinking an enemy warship from about 700 yards away.

If you're surprised that the Navy employs dolphins, though, you shouldn't be. These creatures are highly intelligent, can speed through water and can navigate via sonar.

"Dolphins naturally possess the most sophisticated sonar known to man," said a specialist at the Space and Nava Warfare Systems Center Pacific in an interview with USA Today.

In fact, dolphins were used as guards during the Vietnam War, according to Frontline. In addition, the Navy employed dolphins to guard submarines in Georgia and Washington State. They were even used during the 2003 Iraq invasion in the Persian Gulf to hunt for mines. There are currently 80 bottlenose dolphins and 50 sea lions being trained at the Point Loma facility for mine detection, mine clearing and swimmer protection.

The torpedo itself, which was rendered inoperable due to its long stay in the ocean, will now be displayed at the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington. It's currently being cleaned in order to be ready for its debut.