KINGS BAY, Ga., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy ballistic-missile submarine skipper has been relieved of his duties over a loss of confidence in his ability to command, a Navy spokeswoman said.
Cmdr. Charles "Tony" Hill, 45, was fired as skipper of the West Virginia Monday, not long after returning to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia, Navy Times reported Wednesday. It was Hill's first deployment.
"There were no specific incidents, just a number of indications related to command climate," said Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for Submarine Group 10. "It had nothing to do with the (nuclear) reactor and at no point was the crew or the public in danger."
The Ohio-class submarine is armed with 24 Trident II nuclear missiles.
Hill has been assigned temporarily to Submarine Squadron 20 at Kings Bay. Capt. Stephen Gillespie was named temporary commander of the West Virginia, which is conducting training at its home port.
