January 15, 2009

Submariner may lose command for interview

An Australian submarine commander sailed into rough water when he gave an interview to a men's magazine suggesting female sailors should wear bikinis.

Cmdr. Tom Phillips made some other provocative remarks in an interview with Ralph, an Australian magazine, The Daily Telegraph of Sydney reported. He said that wearing a naval uniform helps men either pull a chick or get in a fight and that the going-down club is the equivalent for submariners of the mile-high club.

Phillips became the commander of HMAS Farncomb late last year. Now, there are calls to strip him of his command and Defense Minister Warren Snowden said that he does not represent the new generation Navy.

When the magazine asked if recruitment might pick up if female sailors all had to be hot and had to wear bikinis, Phillips answered: It would certainly get the right demographic of young men in. I'm not sure how feasible it is, however.