The Royal Australian Navy has dismissed several sailors for the inappropriate use of social media.

Reports emerged in January that the Navy had launched an internal investigation into the fact some sailors engaged in Operation Sovereign Borders had been posting anti-Islamic comments on social media.

The reports claimed at least 20 of them were members of the Australian Defence League, an anti-Islamic group affiliated with the English Defence League, which has often led violent street marches in the UK.

One Navy member who was under investigation had responded to a Facebook post critical of asylum seekers, from someone who claimed to be an ADL member, that he was "about to head out today to deal with these f-----s".

A statement released today by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs says that while no serving member of the Navy has been found to be a member of the Australian Defence League, a number of personnel have been found to have made inappropriate comment on social media or to have an affiliation with different social media groups that are not consistent with Navy values.

The ADF introduced strict social media guidelines for serving members in 2013 and the statement says it takes the issue of inappropriate social media commentary very seriously.

Navy policy requires that personnel must not post material that is derogatory of gender, ethnicity or religion.

The statement says due to the Privacy Act the Navy "cannot provide specific information on the outcome of the individual cases that have been investigated, particularly where individuals have been named or 'outed' in the public domain".

But it says several sailors have had their employment terminated or have been issued with notices of cause for termination.

Others have received a range of disciplinary punishment or other sanctions, including formal warning.

Know more? Contact us at investigations@abc.net.au