Australia's Navy chief has conceded the Australian Defence Force (ADF) turned a blind eye to "sickening" past abuse within its ranks.

A government report released on Thursday revealed in graphic detail how 15- and 16-year-old trainee sailors were beaten and raped at HMAS Leeuwin in the 1960s through to the early 1980s.

Two cases have been referred to police and three alleged abusers are still serving in the ADF.

The report, compiled by the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART), is highly critical of the defence establishment, and claims Defence must have known about the scale of the abuse, but failed to act.

Vice Admiral Ray Griggs says the ADF failed to protect those young boys in its care.

"Well it's a very confronting and difficult document to read. It sickened me – parts of it absolutely sickened me," Vice Admiral Griggs said.

"When you look at what happened there, there was a failure of the Navy of the day in its duty of care for 15- and 16-year-old boys.

"No-one should have to endure the abuse that was endured by these boys ... particularly when they've stuck their hand up and volunteered to serve their country."

The Navy chief, who will move on to become vice-chief of Defence next month, says he will continue to apologise to recruits who were physically and sexually assaulted at the former training base.

"I have spoken to victims from Leeuwin and I have told them how sorry I was that they were subjected to what they were," he said.

"I have told them that, in my view, the Navy failed in its duty of care.

"And in just saying that again – I'm saying that to all of the victims of Leeuwin and all of the victims of abuse who have been in Navy when they've suffered that abuse."

The abuse suffered by the young recruits at Leeuwin ranged from physical abuse and humiliation to serious sexual abuse, including rape and sodomy.

Vice Admiral Ray Griggs says more recent cases of sexual abuse within the ranks have been dealt with appropriately.

"Are we perfect? No, we're not. Do we still have incidents? Yes, we do. But what we don't have now is a Navy or an ADF that ignores what was once ignored," he said.

DART chairman and former West Australian Supreme Court judge Len Roberts-Smith has told the ABC he believes a stand-alone royal commission into the HMAS Leeuwin cases is not warranted.

He said the cases should be looked at by the current Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Vice Admiral Griggs agrees the current royal commission should now examine these cases.

"I believe that if the royal commission into child sex abuse looks at this issue, then that will give further opportunity to have these matters aired," he said.

Do you know more about this story? Email investigations@abc.net.au