Australian officials investigate allegations of sex competition on board navy ship

Australian navy faces inquiry in alleged sex ring

SYDNEY — Australian officials have launched an investigation into allegations that sailors on board a navy ship were running a sex competition during an overseas deployment last year.

The Defense Department says the inquiry that began Friday comes after an initial investigation was found to be biased.

Three sailors from the HMAS Success were sent home last May after reports emerged that sailors were competing to have sex with the most number of female crew mates. The investigation will look into allegations that dollar values were assigned to each woman on board and that sailors could win extra money if they had sex with a female officer or a lesbian.

The new inquiry is to be led by a retired judge.