Washington, Sep 26 (Xinhua) American women may serve aboard submarines of the US Navy, an official said here Friday.

'This is something the CNO (chief of naval operations) and I have been working on since I came into office,' US Navy secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement.

'We are moving out aggressively on this. I believe women should have every opportunity to serve at sea, and that includes aboard submarines,' he said.

Women making up about 15 percent of the US Navy's officers and sailors, however, they are not assigned to serve in the Navy SEAL special forces units.