THE Royal Navy has pledged to make sure 25% of new recruits are female by 2025.

HMS Raleigh, in Torpoint, has increased its capacity to train female sailors with accommodation for 120 women.

Currently one in six sailors passing out of the Royal Navy’s principal basic training base is a woman — up on last year.

Of 513 civilians finishing the ten-week training course — learning drill, tradition, leadership and weapon handling — in November, 88 were female.

But the Navy announced on December 8 it is aiming for one in every four new recruits to be female by 2025.

Among the recent new recruits was able seaman Robyn Stokell, 20, from Wiltshire, who’s aiming to become a specialist in hydrography and meteorology, serving in survey ships.

She said: “I’ve had such an amazing time. I was definitely nervous before coming into the Navy, but the nerves were not worth it. Everyone was very supportive. 

“The camaraderie between us is excellent. Everyone’s chipped in, everyone’s been doing jobs.”

AB Megan Page, from Suffolk, also 20 and aiming to specialise in hydrography and meteorology.

She said: “I came in thinking there may just be four or five, but there were 13 of us passing-out. 

“We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we’ve just pulled each other along.”