Australia investigates sailors over alleged sex romps

Mar 12, 2010, 10:16 GMT

Sydney - Sailors aboard the Australian Navy's HMAS Success engaged in sex romps and competed with each other to see who could chalk up the most conquests and who could bed a new female crew member first, a government inquiry was told Friday.

Former Commanding Officer Simon Brown told the panel that he was aware of misbehaviour aboard his ship and that disciplinary action had been taken on some occasions last year.

'I was told about alleged bullying, told about bounties being placed on female officers - who could have sex with them first,' Brown told the independent inquiry led by a retired judge.

'I was told about drinking games and female officers being got drunk so they would be compliant,' he said.

Brown said he was told two HMAS Success sailors had performed a sex act on a pool table in a bar in China.

An investigation last year into the allegations was abandoned after allegations of bias.

The opening session of the inquiry opened as the navy launched a mentoring programme for its servicewomen.

'This programme will assist in taking navy in the direction that society in general is heading - of flexible careers, flexible work options and an inclusive culture,' Rear Admiral Trevor Jones told top brass gathered at the Defence Force Academy in Canberra.