The Dolphins of US Navy

A pod of Dolphins gave a new Navy submarine a guard of honor - by swimming in its bow wave. The US Navy’s Virginia-class attack vessel was off Newport, Virginia, when it got an unexpected mammal pilot.

The John Warner, America's new Virginia-class attack vessel was completing its sea trials when the creature was spotted.

Dolphins are often seen leaping from the waves as they swim alongside ships at sea. But this is one of the first times they have been recorded swimming in front of a giant submarine.

As the nuclear-powered sub was being put through its paces off the coast of Newport  when the playful mammals were spotted leaping out of the water just a few feet from the front of it.

Following that a short clip of the dolphin guard of honor was filmed. Dolphins appear to enjoy showing off by leaping from the water and can reach over 20mph.

The Mail quoted a spokesman for shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries as saying, "The sea trials were a huge success."