A former female Royal Navy sailor, using the pseudonym Catherine, has spoken of her anger at ongoing abuse of servicewomen after alleging she was raped on a ship. She told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour that she did not feel able to report the rape, which she says led to a pregnancy.
Catherine described a culture of harassment, including a supervisor placing his penis on her shoulder while she typed, being slapped on the bottom, and hearing men discuss how drunk they would need to be to have sex with women they considered unattractive. She said she deliberately gained weight to avoid being targeted.
The rape left her with physical injuries and she required medical treatment. She said she begged her midwife for a Caesarean section because she could not bear anyone to see the damage caused by the assaults. She is now receiving mental health support.
Catherine said she did not report the rape at the time because she was young and feared being labelled a troublemaker. She recalled a senior officer telling her she was 'bringing shame on the Navy' for becoming pregnant at sea, without asking how it happened despite a ban on intimate relationships on ships. The officer hinted at an abortion, she said.
The Royal Navy has launched an inquiry following sexual harassment allegations in the Submarine Service. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was serious about tackling the issue. An MoD spokesperson said they take complaints 'extremely seriously' and are ready to take forward any evidence.
