Sarah West – First woman commander of a navy ship of Britain

• Lieutenant Commander Sarah West, 39 is slated to become the first woman in the 500-year history
  of the Royal Navy of Britain to command a frontline warship.
• She is to be promoted Commander at the end of 2011 and in April 2012 will assume command of the frigate HMS Portland, and its mostly male crew of 185.
• Women have previously commanded only small nonfighting Navy ships such as fishery protection vessels.