US Navy relieves admiral in charge of 7th Fleet

WASHINGTON - 23 August 2017: The US Navy on Wednesday relieved the admiral in charge of the service’s 7th Fleet based in Japan due to "loss of confidence" in his ability to command, it said in a statement.

The move comes after four embarrassing accidents this year, two of which killed sailors at sea, The Washington Post reported.

Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet relieved Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin from his duties at the 7th Fleet’s Yokosuka base in Japan.

Rear Admiral Phil Sawyer, the Pacific Fleet’s deputy commander, will immediately take command. He had been scheduled to assume the post on September 7.