Women to be allowed to server in Royal Navy submarines; first expected end of 2013
Women are to be allowed to serve in submarines for the first time in the Royal Navy’s history the Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, announced on Wednesday. The decision comes following an 18-month review conducted by the Royal Navy looking at the legal, operational, health, social, technical, and financial issues of allowing women to serve on submarines.
Women had previously been excluded from submariner roles due to concerns about higher levels of carbon dioxide in submarine atmosphere carrying risks to female health. But recent research by the Institute of Naval Medicine showed that these risks were unfounded and that there were no medical reasons for excluding women from service in submarines.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “I am pleased that women will now have the same opportunity to serve on board our submarines, carrying out vital tasks maintaining Britain’s defences around the clock, across the world.
“The Royal Navy has always been at the forefront of innovation, and this decision represents another step in its distinguished tradition of recognising the contribution of its people and making the very best use of the talent from which it can recruit.”
The first female submariners are expected to take up their posts towards the end of 2013. Initially this will be a small number of female officers, volunteers who will begin training next year for service in the Vanguard-class of Trident submarines. The first female ratings will be recruited and trained from 2014.
Women will also be able to serve in Astute-class submarines from 2016 when the necessary modifications to on-board accommodation have been made.
Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery, said “Our primary objective in the Royal Navy is maintaining our operational effectiveness both now and in the future. This carefully considered decision will allow the Submarine Service to draw on the widest range of talent and skills of our people - those in service and those yet to join. It will therefore enable us to further consolidate our operational success. And it will give our women the same opportunities as men to enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career in the Submarine Service.”
Currently, more than nine percent of Royal Navy personnel are female, approximately 3,420. Women have been serving on board Royal Navy ships since 1990.
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As for the article itself, well its about time women were treated equally and allowed to serve on submarines like they are allowed to serve and even command surface vessels.
For the record its is “Serve” not “Server” unless you think women are going to act on board as somekind of computer networking device.
Another development is the larger submarines have beds for all of the crew, so no need for hot-bedding, which takes on a whole new meaning with mixed crews.
Proofreading is NOT Merco-Press strongest point. It looks as if they simply do not perform it.
you are putting men and women on a tin can, under water for up to six months, and expect them to play ludo,
now what was the result of women on ships, do you remember the no touch rules,
And how many pregnant woman have their been on R/N ships,
,,,,,
just an interesting thought, if the inevitable happens, I take it they will have the facilities to deliver babies on board, just in case, and a cresh perhaps, some toys for them to play with, until you reach land,
YES very interesting, still the future will tell.
Just a humble thought .
Personally speaking I'd regard being stuck in a big tin tube surrounded by enough water pressure to mean that if it all went pear shaped they'd be recovering what was left with a tea strainer as a good enough reason to not be on submarines, however whatever floats (or in this case submerges) your boat...
Personally i think it's great women are allowed to serve on subs. Although i don't agree with women being able to serve on the front line. Not because i believe women aren't capable of it. I think the film G.I jane explained it well, a woman in a combat situation can often make the rest of her(male) squad weaker. Even though she could be the toughest of them all.
7 zethe
fair comments,
do you think its poss for a all womens sub, or with just a very few men,
Yes there would be a possible risk to the foetus so pregnancy tests should be compulsory. I have not heard anyone complain about this precaution.
It will be interesting to see how the 'no touching' rule works in confined spaces. Talking of which, I cannot imagine ever being willing to live and work in such conditions. I once had a tour of an old sub - The Ocelot? - and it was incredibly claustrophobic. And foolishly I wore a dress that day. : )
100 females last year got sent home from Afghanistan. There are only 700 females out there. It happens.
The main problem is that if for instance a woman does become pregnant and shes on a trident sub, that sub has to come home.
its a difficult problem,
how do the israilies get arround it, i hear they have lots of woman in their services,
just a thought .
The navies of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Canada and Spain all allow women to serve on submarines though.
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