US Fleet Commander To Be Removed After Warship Collision

Officials have confirmed that the Commander of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, is to be removed.

This comes after four collisions involving Navy ships in the Pacific this year, two of which left sailors dead and missing and two lesser known incidents in the first half of the year.

Seven sailors died in June when USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off the coast of Japan.

USS John McCain collided with an oil tanker earlier this week off the coast of Singapore, the remains of some of the missing 10 sailors have been found.  

In January, the USS Antietam guided missile cruiser ran aground near Yokosuka and in May another cruiser, the USS Lake Champlain from the Navy's 3rd Fleet, had a minor collision with a South Korean fishing boat.   

According to one official, the Vice Admiral has been removed as leadership has lost confidence in his ability to command.

Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Scott Swift said:

"While each of these four incidents is unique, they cannot be viewed in isolation."

The US Navy announced a broad review of the 7th Fleet's performance following the incidents.