Women were filmed undressing or in the shower onboard the ballistic missile submarine the Wyoming, according to a Navy incident report. (Photo by Lt. Rebecca Rebarich/U.S. Navy)
KINGS BAY, Ga., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Some of the first female sailors to serve on submarines in the U.S. Navy were secretly filmed undressing and taking showers, officials have revealed, and investigators are questioning the 24-year-old man who they believe filmed the women and distributed videos of them nude.
All the women in the videos served on the ballistic missile submarine the USS Wyoming which docks in Georgia. At least three female officers were filmed for over a year on the sub, according to a Navy incident report filed last month.
The suspect has not been publicly identified, but he's a second-class petty officer, according to officials.
Authorities became aware of the problem when an officer on another sub received one of the videos, according to the Navy Times, and reported it to his superiors.
Typically, 15 officers and 140 enlisted personnel serve on a ballistic missile sub. There are only unisex bathrooms, but if a woman is showering, she indicates on the door that men must wait until she's done — a sign that would also tip off a peeping Tom.
Some of the women have complained about how the incident has been handled, accusing leaders of a lack of sensitivity.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is questioning those involved. The incident has been officially classified as a "privacy violation," but at least one victim characterized it as sexual harassment.
The Wyoming was one of the first submarines to take on women in 2011, beginning with 12 female supply and line officers in both crews.
