Right: A torpedo being moved by a squad of Wrens at Portsmouth in 1943 in preparation for it to be loaded into a submarine

At the beginning of the Second World War Vera Laughton Mathews was appointed as the director of the re-formed WRNS in 1939 with Ethel (Angela) Goodenough as her deputy. [1] The WRNS had an expanded list of allowable activities, including flying transport planes. At its peak in 1944 it had 75,000 active servicewomen. During the war 102 WRNS members were killed in action and 22 wounded in action. [2] One of the slogans used in recruitment posters was "Join the Wrens and free a man for the Fleet". Net Defence: Battery Charger: Boat's Crew: Laundrymaid: Messenger: Hall Porter: Postman: Steward (General) including Petty Officers Messman and Night Porter: Maintenance Mason, Ursula Stuart (1992). Britannia's Daughters: the story of the WRNS. London: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0850522714.It was decided that women should fulfil some of the shore jobs in a supporting role, freeing up men to go to sea. As well as the Home Front, thousands of Wrens served in overseas units. They also worked in the different branches of the Royal Navy, including the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Marines. Australia, Canada and New Zealand formed their own Royal Naval Services. The Women's Royal Indian Naval Service (WRINS) contributed significantly to the running of Royal Indian Navy shore establishments.

In the 1970s, the prospect of a women ever commanding a warship at sea was out of the question but only a decade later, as the Staff Officer of 706 Naval Air Squadron, Sue took part in one of the first experiments of women at sea with her division of Wren Air Mechanics at RNAS Culdrose. The WRNS reached its largest size in 1944, with 74,000 women doing over 200 different jobs. 303 Wrens were killed on wartime service. After the war the WRNS was made a permanent part of the Royal Navy, but women did not serve in Royal Navy ships until the 1990s.

2002: The MoD upholds ban on women serving on the front-line with the Army

Jean devised a new tactic – dubbed Operation Raspberry, as it was blowing a raspberry at Hitler – which involved sending escort vessels to the rear to intercept surfacing U-boats. Lee, Celia (2012). "Princess Marina the Duchess of Kent as Commandant of the WRNS during the Second World War". In Lee, Celia (ed.). Women in War: from home front to front line. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. pp.101–116. ISBN 9781848846692. HMS Raleigh was the home of initial naval training for Wrens, as they were affectionately known, from 1981 until training for men and women was amalgamated in 1990.