Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:55:06-1:57:10

Removing a naval commander who has lost authority

Chains of command normally detect and remove a captain who has lost the crew's confidence before disobedience becomes an open crisis.

Chain Of CommandLeadershipNaval CommandRoyal Navy
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Question

Can a commander be removed because authority over the unit has broken down?

Short answer

Yes, but the chain of command normally intervenes earlier, replacing or reassigning the officer and appointing an acting commander.

Notes

A breakdown dramatic enough for a crew to ignore an arrest order would usually be reported and handled before reaching that point. Officers below the captain can be removed by the captain, while a complaint about the captain travels to a senior commander or admiral. Distance complicates the process but does not eliminate it. Historically, an unwanted captain might be detached for a plausible shore or staff duty while a senior lieutenant assumed acting command. The administrative solution protects the unit without requiring the crew to improvise a mutiny against a lawful chain of command.