From Times Online
March 9, 2010

Royal Navy may lift ban on females serving on submarines

Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor

The Royal Navy may lift a ban on women serving on submarines, the Ministry of Defence said today. A decision will be made later this year.

Last month the United States moved to relax similar rules preventing women from deploying on submarines.

The Sun reported that four groups of five women officers will initially be deployed with Britain’s four Vanguard-class, nuclear submarines, which each have a crew of 135.

A spokesman at the Ministry of Defence, however, described the report as “speculative”.

"The policy on women serving in submarines is under review. This review is expected to be completed later this year,” the spokesman added.

Fears that pregnant women could miscarry because of breathing recycled air have until now prevented female sailors from joining submarine patrols, which typically last three months.

There have also been concerns about sexual tensions if women and men are kept in close quarters for such a prolonged period of time.

Last month, the Pentagon approved a plan that would permit women to work on submarines. Congress has until the last week of March to pass legislation blocking the move. If it does not, the rules prohibiting female crew members from serving in the US submarine fleet will automatically be lifted.