What were women in the navy called in world war 2?

Answer 1

Women served in all three branches: the army (WAAC), the navy (WAVE) and the air force (WAAF). WAAC stood for Womens' Army Auxiliary Corps. Don't remember what the other two acronyms stood for.

Answer 2

There were WAC's women in the air corps The UK Had the WRNS (Wrens) ATS (Auxilliary Territorial Service) & the WAAF (Womens Army Air Force). FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) Was used as a cover for SOE. Oh & I think the QARANC (Queen Alexandras Royal Army Nursing Corps) existed then as well.

Answer 3

The general English noun describing a person serving in any navy - merchant or military - is the non-gender-specific 'sailor'. In specific military navies during World War Two, terms used to describe women sailors in some Allied naval forces include:

In Australia, the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) operated from 1941 to 1984.

In Canada, the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS, known - like their British equivalents - as Wrens) operated from 1942 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1955.

In New Zealand, the Women's Royal New Zealand Naval Services (WRNZNS, called informally, especially by NZ and Australian military, Ranzies, which also referred to women in the NZ Army) operated from 1942 to 1977.

In South Africa, the South African Navy operated the South African Woman's Auxiliary Naval Service (SWANS) from 1943 to 1949.

In the UK, the Women's Royal Naval Services, or WRNS, also known informally as Wrens, was formed in 1917 and operated until 1919; it was reconstituted in 1939 and finally disappeared forever when women were fully integrated (with specific service exclusions) into the Royal Navy in 1993.

In the US, during WW2 the US Naval division established in 1942 and solely open to women was called WAVES. (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), which gave rise to jokes such as'join the navy and ride the waves'. WAVES continued until 1948 when women were officially integrated into the US Military.

This list doesn't cover all Allied nor any AXISnaval activity during WW2.

I'm not aware of any history of women's naval service in China, France and Russia during this period, but cannot say for certain that women did not serve in Allied naval forces.

As far as AXIS alliance naval forces are concerned, I'm also unaware of any women's naval service in Germany, Italy or Japan.

Perhaps another contributor might be able to complete this list of countries in which women served in navies during WW2, and the names given to those women's naval services.

Answer 4

Wacs and waves

They could serve in Transport I believe.