First female sailors join Gulf of Aden missions  

中国海军首批战斗女舰员出征亚丁湾

中国海军第十四批护航编队经过24小时的航行训练，17日上午10时抵达东海某海域。记者在哈尔滨舰驾驶室看到，大学生女舰员谢维维左手扶操舵盘、肩挎战备包，正在独立值更。据介绍，像谢维维这样具备独立值班的女舰员有8人，成为首批奔赴亚丁湾战斗岗位的女水兵。

Missile destroyer Harbin (CNS) – China's 14th escort fleet, which departed Saturday from China to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, includes the first group of combat-ready female sailors to participate in the escort missions since they began in 2008.

Aged from 21 to 24, the eight women were selected from 12 candidates through a series of physical tests, medical examinations and professional knowledge assessments. They are formally trained in combat tasks and in charge of navigation and communications.

Over the years, several groups of female soldiers have joined escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, but were mainly responsible for medical services, translation or other work.

After 24 hours of sailing, the 14th convoy fleet, comprising the missile destroyer Harbin, the frigate Mianyang and the supply ship Weishanhu, arrived at the East Sea area at 10 a.m. Sunday.