Let's break it down for the land lubbers?
1) The Captain doesn't AUTOMATICALLY lose command of his boat. There will be an investigation to determine whether or not he was responsible for the accident. But....
2) Non-Navy types will be SHOCKED at how many things a skipper is responsible for. It's almost anything.
3) It could be OK if there is no way he could have avoided the accident. And by "no way" I mean... nobody he placed on watch made an incompetent error.... no equipment HE was responsible for failed for lack of maintenance... no charts of the area showed the danger... and on, and on, and on. A captain is always responsible for his boat and crew. If there was ANY reasonable (and some unreasonable) way to avoid the incident... he's in trouble. If there was no way to avoid the incident... we don't cashier good skippers for the he11 of it!
It's just that the Navy's standards are not the same as the rest of the world's. It's a different life out there.
You are right on the mark!
I've been aboard a boat (and on a skimmer) where something unforseen happened. In the case of the boat, we struck a growler with our attack scope coming to PD. Bent the scope into a pretzel, and dented the sail pretty nicely. the ping jockeys never had any idea it was there---it was that small and made no noise that would give itself away.
Board of Inquiry was held and they said that it (not the exact words, of course) one of those things.
Skipper stayed, as did the OOD.
If you get anymore word on that boat can you guys ping me?