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ILN page on submarine hunting sea lions, WW1
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ILN page on submarine hunting sea lions, WW1
A remarkable naval experiment came to light after the war was over, deemed so unlikely that when The Illustrated London News first heard of it, they believed it to be a hoax. The suggestion that attempts were made to train sea lions were trained to hunt submarines, did seem far-fetched. However, after a thorough investigation, they were satisfied with its authenticity enough to publish a lavish spread on it in April 1919. In the summer of 1917 the Admiralty hit on a novel way of hunting submarines. It was simply to employ tame sea-lions (Otaria Gillespie) to track them down-the idea being that the sea-lion could be taught to distinguish the noise of a submarines propeller and to follow it in the hope of getting food. A buoy would be attached to the animal, and a trawler would follow the buoy and drop a depth charge when the sea-lion appeared to have found the submarine
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Billy Lion Lions Sealion Sealions Submarine U Boat
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EDITORS COMMENTS
An Unlikely Naval Hero: The Great Sea Lion Experiment of World War I During the tumultuous years of World War I, an extraordinary naval experiment came to light that seemed too fantastical to be true. When The Illustrated London News first heard whispers of trained sea lions being used to hunt submarines, they were met with skepticism and disbelief. The notion of teaching Otaria Gillespie sea lions to distinguish the sound of a submarine's propeller and follow it in the hope of locating the elusive underwater vessels seemed like a far-fetched tale. However, upon further investigation, the esteemed publication was convinced of its authenticity and published a detailed account in their April 1919 issue. The experiment had taken place in the summer of 1917, when the Admiralty, in search of innovative ways to combat the increasing threat of U-boats, hit upon this novel idea. The plan was simple yet ingenious: A buoy would be attached to a tame sea lion, and a trawler would follow the buoy, dropping a depth charge when the sea lion appeared to have found a submarine. This unconventional approach to submarine hunting was met with a mix of amusement and intrigue, but the potential benefits were too great to ignore. The sea lions, native to the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans, were believed to possess an exceptional sense of hearing, making them ideal candidates for this audacious endeavor. The hope was that, with proper training, they could be taught to associate the sound of a submarine's propeller with food, leading them to follow the noise and guide the trawler to the submarine's location. Although the outcome of this remarkable experiment remains uncertain, it serves as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those involved in the war effort during World War I. The story of the sea lion submarine hunters continues to captivate us, a fascinating chapter in the annals of naval history.
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