U.S. Navy says deadly McCain collision was preventable, relieves ship commander

TOKYO (Reuters) - The collision of the USS McCain with a merchant ship near Singapore that killed 10 sailors was preventable, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday after it relieved the warships commander and his deputy from their duties.

"The commanding officer exercised poor judgment, and the executive officer exercised poor leadership of the ship's training program," the USS Seventh Fleet said in a press release.

Commander A. Sanchez, the McCain's captain, and his executive officer Commander J. Sanchez were reassigned to other duties in Japan, where the Seventh Fleet is headquartered, the Navy said.

(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Michael Perry)