Groton— The commanding officer of the USS Memphis has been relieved of duty due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Capt. William Merz, commander of Submarine Development Squadron 12 in Groton, relieved Cmdr. Charles Maher as commanding officer of the Memphis (SSN 691), a Groton-based Los Angeles-class submarine, on Nov. 18 due to a loss of confidence in Maher's ability to command, according to a Navy statement released Friday.

The Navy is investigating 10 Memphis crew members suspected of tampering with the answer keys used in the ship's training examinations.

Maher was not accused of involvement in the tampering, the Navy said in the statement, but "his leadership and performance fostered an environment which failed to uphold the high standards of integrity of the Submarine Force and the Navy."

Maher has been reassigned to administrative duties at Submarine Group Two in Groton. Capt. Carl Lahti, recently the deputy commander of Development Squadron 12, now commands the Memphis.

"The ship was safe at all times and remains safe," according to the Navy.