First female warship captain stripped of command over affair allegations (Royal Navy)

The Telegraph, UK ^ | 07 Aug 2014 | Keith Perry

[sukhoi-30mki]

Commander Sarah West, 41, is sacked as skipper of the frigate HMS Portland over claims that she had a relationship with her married third-in-command

Commander Sarah West, who was the first female commander of a major Royal Navy warship Photo: David Cheskin/PA Wire

The first female captain of a Navy warship has been stripped of her command over allegations of an affair with a fellow officer. Commander Sarah West, 41, was sacked as skipper of the frigate HMS Portland.

It follows reports revealing claims that she had a relationship with her married third-in-command.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: We can confirm that Commander Sarah West, Commanding Officer of HMS PORTLAND, has been removed from Command.

"This is an internal matter between the individual and her senior officers and we will not give further details of the removal.

"Commander West will continue to serve in the Royal Navy and she will be reappointed to a post where her skills and experience can be used to best effect.”

Commander West, 42, took charge of the frigate HMS Portland in May 2012, but was put on leave while officials decided whether she had broken strict rules on relationships.

[listenhillary]

Women and Seaman don’t mix (Homer Simpson)

[Sacajaweau]

My bro said the female on his ship did everyone....except him of course.

[Tennessee Nana]

so what happened to her “third-in-command” ???

[Iron Munro]

She clearly misunderstood the meaning of “Frigate”.

[Amagi]

Somewhere in the middle of the article Sarah West had a birthday, apparently.

[Grams A]

Women and Seaman don’t mix (Homer Simpson)”

Apparently they do/did. One of these days we’ll probably have one whose entire crew is lesbians. Problem solved. /s/

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I’m not even sure that’s a woman.

[listenhillary]

It’s a strangely staged photo.

[Yorlik803]

She was just practicing “prepare to be boarded”.

[Sacajaweau]

http://theincredibletide.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/royal-navy-officer-sarah-west.jpg

[ThunderSleeps]

Relationships between servicemen and women are allowed in the military as long as they do not undermine "trust and cohesion" or damage "operational effectiveness".

Hmm. Also curious, she is relieved of command over "allegations" - either this is a knee-jerk reaction and excuse to move her out, or there must be a sense that there is something there. I guess an affair with a married officer would show poor judgement and morals on her part. It would also undermine trust, and call into question favoritism etc.

[ETL 2]

First female warship captain stripped of command

[knarf]

That was MY thought as well.

PS to Grams A - already done ... some 65 years ago ..

[wally_bert]

I had a friend in base security that told me of one female that had a decent side business on a tender for several months.

[elcid1970]

Guess she forgot the old rule about no friggin’ in the riggin’.

;^)

[TADSLOS]

...must be from the Hornblower family tree.

[Puppage]

Did she go down.....with the ship?

[gr8eman]

It’s a man, baby!

[Louis Foxwell]

My initial impression was that it was a lesbian relationship. That would have been acceptable, presumably, or, at least, not actionable.