• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Emory S. Land Commanding Officer Relieved

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110715-20
7/15/2011

From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The commanding officer of submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) was relieved of command July 15 in Bahrain by Commander, Task Force 74/54, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer relieved Capt. Eric Merrill as a result of an investigation into an incident that occurred June 21 in which Emory S. Land struck a channel buoy during an inbound transit to Mina Salman port in Bahrain. At admiral's mast July 15, Merrill was awarded non-judicial punishment for violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 110 (improper hazarding of vessel).

Merrill, who took command of Emory S. Land in September 2010, has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Capt. Thomas Stanley, previous commanding officer of submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), has assumed command of Emory S. Land until a permanent replacement is named.

Following the allision, the submarine tender pulled into port in Bahrain where it is currently making preparations for repairs. No crew members were injured in the incident. Investigations are in progress.

Emory S. Land operates from the forward-deployed location of Diego Garcia.