Submariner may lose command for interview

CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- 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."