Australian army officers have been suspended amid a defence investigation into the distribution and creation of "explicit" and "profane" material that demeans women.
The army is facing a major internal crisis following the discovery of the "highly inappropriate" material sent across defence computer systems and the public internet over the past three years.
Chief of Army Lieutenant-General David Morrison said he was "appalled at this situation", which came to light on April 10.
"I view the allegations that are being made in the gravest light," he said on Thursday.
So far, three army personnel have been suspended from duty pending the outcome of defence investigations, and could be investigated by NSW police.
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Another 14 army officers and non-commissioned officers appear to have engaged in actions that "strike at the heart of the army's ethos and its contract with the nation".
The highest ranking officer is a lieutenant-colonel. The others are either majors, captains, warrant officers, sergeants or corporals.
A further 90 or so other Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel may have been on the periphery of these exchanges, Lieutenant General Morrison said.
He declined to detail the allegations but did make references to degrading emails and references to illicit drugs. "It's explicit and demeaning and profane," he said.
It's understood the material includes imagery falling into three categories - some images of women are accompanied by offensive commentary, some have been digitally altered to be explicit and some show naked women.
More than five women are involved and include ADF members, public servants and members of the broader public - but don't include public figures.
Lieutenant General Morrison has apologised to the victims and says he will do everything in his power to hold those responsible to account. Investigators had also found "reference to illicit drugs" in intercepted correspondence and this raised further suspicions which would also be investigated.
The army chief said he had no explanation for the scandal, which he described as worse than the 2011 Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) "Skype scandal", which involved a cadet streaming footage of himself having sex with a female cadet to male cadets in another room.
Lieutenant General Morrison said he took responsibility for the scandal. "It's on me," he said.
"I'm responsible for this, I'm the chief of the Australian army. The culture of the army is in my hands during my tenure and I'm doing as much as I humanly can to improve it."
Defence minister Stephen Smith said he had been briefed and support the Chief of Army's actions.
