Themes

The Navy's People

• Naval Lives

• In Focus: Women in the Navy

  • The story of the WRNS

  • The Image of Women in the Navy

  • Free a Man for the Fleet

  • Camaraderie

• In Focus: Recreation and Time off

• In Focus: Discipline and Punishment

Learning

• How To: Understand Naval Medals

1990 - 1993

The Navy turns to women

By 1990 the Royal Navy had begun to seriously consider the recruitment of women to fill the shortages in 'man power'.

The navies of other nations had already begun to send women to sea. But practical issues of accomodation, privacy and combat roles mingled with rhe criticisms of male chauvantists and naval wives.

In October 1990 the first Wrens to serve on an operational warship boarded HMS Brilliant, paving the way to the eventual scrapping of the WRNS and full integration of women into the Royal Navy in 1993.

Wrens serving on HMS Brilliant (RNM)

Article highlights

• The Navy turns to women

• Recruitment crisis

• Announcement in the Commons

• The 'Brilliant' Wrens

• Full integration

Read the story of the WRNS

• 1917 - 1919 The first WRNS formed during World War One

• 1938 - 1945 World War Two reformation

• 1946 - 1969 Post war permanent service

• 1970 - 1989 Towards integration

• 1990 - 1993 Women at sea

• Women in the Navy today Equality and limitations in the Navy

Related External Links

• BBC Website - Peoples War