Women are to be allowed to serve on Royal Navy submarines for the first time, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced today.
The first female officers will begin serving on Vanguard class nuclear-powered submarines from late 2013, Mr Hammond said.
They will be followed by women ratings in 2015. Women will also be able to serve on the new Astute class submarines from about 2015.
"Operational effectiveness has to remain the watchword for everything we do and we will continue to learn from our experience," Mr Hammond said in a keynote speech to the Royal United Services Institute in London.
"We will change and adapt with the evidence and the circumstances. We will value our history and tradition - but we will not be slaves to them.
"In that spirit, I can announce today that I have accepted the recommendation of the First Sea Lord that women should be allowed to serve in submarines in the future."
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
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