Lieutenants Maxine Stiles, Alexandra Olsson and Penny Thackray (left-right) the first female RN submariners

Like many milestones, once it is past, it doesn’t seem like quite as big a deal.  Last week, three women made history by becoming the first female submariners to serve in the Royal Navy.

Female officers have served on US Navy submarines for the past several years.  Since the end of the ban on female submariners in 2010, 43 female US Navy officers have served aboard six Ohio-class ballistic-missile (SSBN) and guided-missile submarines (SSGN).  Submarines with women currently serving on board include USS Florida, USS Georgia and USS Wyoming, homeported in Kings Bay, Ga., and USS Ohio, USS Louisiana, and USS Maine, homeported in Bangor, Wash.

Based on the success of female officers on the larger submarines, the first female officers will be assigned to the smaller fast attack submarine USS Virginia starting in January 2015.   There are currently plans to allow female enlisted personnel to serve on US submarines in 2016, although it has not been decided whether they will serve on attack boats or ballistic-missile subs.

The French recently announced that women will be allowed to serve on nuclear submarines in the French Navy starting in 2017.