A Kirklees woman is today making history.
Penny Thackray is one of the first female submariners to serve in the Royal Navy.
Lieutenant Thackray and her colleagues, Maxine Stiles and Alexandra Olsson have completed months of specialised training to earn their “Dolphins” - the clasp worn by qualified submariners - becoming the first women in the 110-year history of the Navy’s Submarine Service.
For years women were unable to serve on submarines because of possible health risks but, after an independent review found that only pregnant women should not serve, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond lifted the ban in December 2011.
Today, Mr Hammond said: “This is not only a huge personal achievement for these three outstanding officers, as they take up their new roles supporting the ultimate safeguard of our national security, but also an historic moment for the Royal Navy and our armed forces.”
Lt Thackray, 39, from Hightown, Liversedge, said: “You limit your horizons. I found I just forgot about the existence of some things - someone asked me if I missed bananas. I hadn’t even noticed until they mentioned it. I just forgot the outside world, you get a whole new world.”
After their training, Lt Stiles will continue her Logistics Officer post on board; Lt Olsson is undertaking Deputy Weapons Engineering Officer training; and Lt Thackray will become an Education Officer.
Following the arrival of woman officers, female ratings (non-commissioned personnel) will start training later this year with a view to serving on Vanguard submarines in 2015. During their training, previously only undertaken by men, the three women officers conducted operations on nuclear-powered Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant, passing their rigorous final exams with flying colours, and will now embark on careers in the Submarine Service.
Lt Stiles, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, said: “I wanted to be able to say that I had made the most of every opportunity that I had been given in the Navy.
“It’s very intense and very challenging but that’s what makes it so rewarding. At the end of it, when you get your Dolphins and are accepted into the submarine community, it’s great.”
Lt Olsson, 26, from Tranmere, was inspired to volunteer to serve on submarines after childhood visits to see HMS Onyx at the Maritime Museum in Birkenhead.
She said: “I kept volunteering and volunteering until it came in.”
She admitted the three women might have “stuck out” on board, but said: “They were really receptive. Having a slower process of introducing a few females first in the officer cadre and then ratings has helped. We haven’t just knocked on the door of a submarine and said ‘Can we come to sea please?”
HMS Vigilant’s commanding officer Commander Matt Dennis, who oversaw their training, said: “I was impressed with how seamlessly the three women integrated on board.
“They qualified without any difficulty and two of them even completed additional training whilst at sea.”
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
