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The trainee officers, aged 18 to 24, were in the women's accommodation wing of the 200-year-old elite Royal Military Academy in Berkshire. 

Inquiries have revealed that several men - thought to be fellow trainees - gained entry to the block after its main door was left unlocked. 

Normally, entry is possible only after a secret numbered code is entered on a keypad at the entrance of the building. 

An investigation has been launched by the Army's Special Investigations Branch into the incidents at the world-renowned training centre. 

One theory is that revellers from a late-night drinks party nearby - where guests included a number of male Sandhurst cadets - entered the building which housed about 100 women, two to a room. 

One of the three victims, who were all in sleeping bags on top of their beds, has told friends that at first she thought a ghost was in her unlocked room. But the young subaltern awoke and realised she was being assaulted. The man ran off. Her two colleagues, who were in different rooms, also failed to identify their assailants. 

All women cadets at Sandhurst - motto Serve To Lead - have now been moved to a new, more secure building to avoid a repetition of the embarrassing incident. 

They have been ordered to double-check that they lock up at night before lights out. 

The Special Investigations Branch, the Army's police force, was called in after the assaults - which took place on October 3 - were reported to senior officers. 

No arrests have been made so far. But Army sources made it clear last night that if the attackers are identified, they will face a court martial, which could end their military careers. 

An Army spokesman said last night: 'We can confirm that over the weekend of October 3, female officer cadets at Sandhurst reported intruders in their room. 

'The Army Special Investigations Branch are investigating and continue to investigate. Since that time, extra security measures have been taken to ensure no repetition of such incidents.' 

The incident has deeply embarrassed senior officers at Sandhurst, where the Queen regularly awards the Sword of Honour on the parade ground to the top cadet. Earlier this year, Junior Under Officer Fiona Stewart, 23, from Claygate, Surrey, became the first female winner. 

It is the second scandal to hit the academy in 12 months. A year ago, seven Army instructors were arrested at Sandhurst over claims that they were given bribes by wealthy officer cadets from abroad in return for higher grades. 

Gifts handed out were said to have included BMW and Mercedes cars, Rolex watches and foreign holidays. 

Sandhurst, founded in 1799, is the oldest military academy of any major army in the world. 

The modern-day college was formed in 1946 by combining the 18th Century Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, South East London, and the 19th Century Royal Military College. 

Up to 10 per cent of students are from overseas, mainly Africans and Arabs. 

Former students included the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, King Hussein of Jordan and Dodi Fayed. 

The Princess Royal and her former husband Captain Mark Phillips once lived in the academy's grounds. 

Montgomery, hero of El Alamein, was nearly dismissed from Sandhurst after setting fire to another cadet's shirt tails. The victim was badly burned. 

And Oswald Mosley, the pre-War British fascist leader, limped for the rest of his life after jumping from a first-floor window to escape a Sand-hurst room-raiding party.