Second officer taken off sex scandal sub

A SCANDAL over conduct on a Royal Navy nuclear submarine has widened after it was disclosed that a second officer was also removed for an alleged improper relationship with a female colleague.

The sub’s commander and second-in-command were last week taken off HMS Vigilant while Navy chiefs investigated the claims.

Cdr Stuart Armstrong, the boat’s commander, was earlier this week revealed to have been relieved of his duties after allegations his relationship with a female subordinate was “closer than it should have been”.

But The Daily Telegraph understands that his executive officer was removed at the same time amid allegations of a separate improper relationship with a different female subordinate.

The executive officer has not been named.

Naval sources said the removal of the top two officers from a vessel was “highly unusual”.

Two senior officers in the Submarine Service are understood to have flown from the naval base at Faslane, Scotland, to the US, where the boat was deployed, to deal with the fallout.

A source familiar with the investigation said Naval chiefs were furious with the alleged breach of discipline in the secretive Submarine Service and deeply embarrassed that the situation had become public.

Relationships within the same command chain are banned on submarines and warships for fear they will lead to favouritism that undermines discipline.