'Armchair admirals' blasted for comments on female captain's gender after ship sinking
New Zealand's defence minister has criticised "armchair admirals" who have speculated on the causes of the sinking of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui.
Former Royal Navy officer Commander Yvonne Gray was this week praised for her decision to evacuate everyone aboard the stricken ship by New Zealand's Chief of Navy.
Rear Admiral Garin Golding said Cdr Gray made the "right decision" to evacuate the 75 people aboard, which "saved lives".
Since the news of the incident, however, social media in New Zealand has been flooded with sexist remarks about "women drivers" and homophobic references to Cdr Gray's sexuality.
New Zealand's Defence Minister Judith Collins told the Telegraph she has been appalled to see trolling from "armchair admirals".
She noted that a "deeply concerning misogynist narrative reared its head before our people had even made it home to New Zealand. A court of inquiry has been set up to establish what caused this terrible incident.
"The one thing that we already know did not cause it, is the gender of the ship's captain, a woman with 30 years of naval experience who made the call to get her people to safety.
"I'm appalled to see the comments online from these armchair admirals, people who will never have to make decisions which mean life or death for their subordinates."
Originally from Harrogate in Yorkshire, Commander Yvonne Gray took the helm of the RNZN's dive, hydrographic and salvage vessel HMNZS Manawanui in December 2022.
Cdr Gray gave the order for all hands to abandon ship when it ran aground and caught fire off the coast of Samoa – it then listed heavily and 12 hours later was entirely submerged.
Her actions ensured that all 75 passengers and crew were evacuated onto lifeboats and rescued, although some were injured.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said following the incident a Court of Inquiry will establish how the Navy ship crashed into a reef.
She called the evacuation "something of a triumph, frankly", given the difficult conditions.
Defence and security blogger @PinstripedLine, following the torrent of abuse directed at the commander reported in the Telegraph article, said on X: "The fact this article had to be written about 'armchair admirals' is a damning indictment into the pathetic misogyny shown by individuals who clearly use their internet warrior persona to overcompensate for something.
"It's truly pathetic to see," the BFBS Forces News columnist added.
Recently retired from the Royal Navy Commodore Steve Prest was in 100% agreement with this and even pointed towards the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Nottingham which struck a rock in 2002.
He said: "I don't recall anyone asking whether Richard Farrington's gender or sexuality has anything to do with HMS Nottingham striking Wolfe Rock!".
Cdr Gray had said in 2022 whilst speaking to New Zealand's Navy Today magazine, that taking command of HMNZS Manawanui, "was that opportunity that made my eyes light up".
After the sinking, she said losing the ship meant that her "very worst imagining" as captain had become a reality.
She added that the ship's crew had responded to the emergency "exactly the way I needed them to", praising their "commitment and courage".
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding has directed the assembly of a Court of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui which which will assemble on Friday.
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