Larger Royal Navy submariners ‘need wider escape hatches’ – and fast jets on HMS Queen Elizabeth already have modified ejector seats for heavier pilots

ESCAPE hatches on submarines should be made wider to accommodate the bulging waistlines of sailors.
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HMS AMBUSH

That’s the view of Lord McColl of Dulwich, a consultant surgeon, who has raised his concerns about overweight service personnel.

The Tory peer said Britain’s latest fighter jets have already had their ejector seats modified to support heavier pilots.

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Now he has questioned whether additional measures should be taken by the Senior Service to make life easier for heftier personnel.

Royal Navy sailors, male and female, being put through fitness test at HMS TemeraireRoyal Navy sailors, male and female, being put through fitness test at HMS Temeraire
Royal Navy sailors, male and female, being put through fitness test at HMS Temeraire

Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord McColl said: ‘By far and away the most serious eating disorder is the obesity epidemic which is now impinging upon the armed forces.

‘Ejector seats in fighter planes are having to be modified because of obesity.

‘We may have to enlarge the escape hatches of submarines to allow (people to get out).’

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Britain’s F-35B jets have been fitted with super-boosted ejector seats as pilots have grown heavier over the years.

A Tory peer has suggested escape hatches on submarines should be made bigger to accommodate obese submariners. Pictured are sailors eating fish and chips.
Picture: Chris MoorhouseA Tory peer has suggested escape hatches on submarines should be made bigger to accommodate obese submariners. Pictured are sailors eating fish and chips.
Picture: Chris Moorhouse
A Tory peer has suggested escape hatches on submarines should be made bigger to accommodate obese submariners. Pictured are sailors eating fish and chips. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

The change was revealed following an investigation by the Telegraph, which reported that each seat was capable of ejecting a person weighing almost 18 stone.

Previously, an RAF survey last year found 4,272 personnel were classed as clinically obese, the highest level ever recorded.

Health minister Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford said: ‘While I don't feel able to comment on ejector seats or submarine hatches... I do believe that obesity is a serious issue.’

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She added that eating disorders, generally, were ‘life-threatening conditions’ and should be the ‘priority’ of the government to tackle.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that fitness standards in the Royal Navy had been maintained and there was no need, or plan, to increase the size of hatches on submarines as a result of personnel issues.