Parachuting dogs - the MoD's latest weapon against the Taliban

When they say it's a dog's life they weren't kidding - UK special forces in Afghanistan are parachuting German shepherds with video cameras strapped to them into Taliban strongholds to search buildings for insurgents.

At least eight animals have been killed during these types of operations and animal rights campaigners have now expressed their outrage. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said: "Dogs are not tools or "innovations" and are not ours to use and toss away like empty ammunition shells."

The dogs are being strapped to the chest of their handlers for the parachute drops, and cameras are attached to their heads to feed back images of buildings and surrounding areas.

The dogs are reportedly trained to attack armed people, and eight of them have died in action so far. "But that would be eight SAS men," a source told the Times.

This is not the first time an army has turned to canine helpers to assist in dealing with an enemy.

Soldier dogs

BC - The earliest records of the use of canines in war are from 2100BC, when Hammurabi employed dogs to fight alongside his most elite warriors. The Lydians and Persians used also used dogs during battles. 

Middle Ages - During the Middle Ages, Great Danes and Mastiffs were bred in Western Europe, for war. Their primary role was to jump onto the backs of horses, throwing the rider off, and allowing their master to dispose of the horseman. They were also used to scare horses and pursue fleeing enemies. Dogs were also starting ti get used as rescuers and were sent out to search for and either stand over or drag back fallen soldiers to camp, while others would remain at the baggage camp to protect camp followers and treasures/goods during the battle.

16h Century - During this century conquistadors dressed their huge mastiffs in quilted overcoats, they were released into native villages, mauling the residents and wreaking havoc.

WWI  - Large scale use of dogs as messengers as they proved more mobile and less of a target on the battlefield than humans.

WWII - The Russian military trained dogs to run underneath tanks and armoured vehicles. When faced by attack from the German's Panzer forces the dogs would be sent forward with explosives strapped to their bodies. The detonator was a rod which extended upwards from the explosive pouches the dogs wore. When they ducked under tanks, as they had been conditioned to, the rod would hit the hull of the vehicle, detonating bomb and dog. The anti-tank dogs experienced mixed success. One of the main problems with their deployment was the hounds' tendency to turn tail at the sound of enemy gunfire – they had been trained to run under stationery, non-firing tanks to save fuel and ammunition – and run back to the Soviet trenches, exploding and killing comrades on arrival.

Vietnam War - During the Vietnam War, Australian and US forces had scout dogs, which served purposes such as messengers, mascots, mine detectors, companions, scouts and rescuers.