Boat horror reprimand ends commander's career

Submarine commander Scott Waddle, whose vessel rammed a Japanese school boat killing nine people, has been found guilty of two violations of military law.

He was punished with a letter of reprimand that the US Navy Pacific commander said would ‘‘effectively terminate his career’’.

Waddle, who said he accepted the punishment, also received a two-month pay cut to half his salary, but that punishment was suspended.

Waddle will receive full pay until he retires on October 1. The Navy said Waddle would receive his pension and full retirement pay.

Admiral Thomas Fargo said Waddle created ‘‘an artificial sense of urgency’’ when he rapidly surfaced the USS Greeneville on February 9, ramming the Ehime Maru, a Japanese high school vessel, off Hawaii, killing nine men and boys.

Fargo imposed the punishment at an ‘‘admiral’s mast’’ at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, attended by Waddle, a military lawyer and several officers at the navy base.

‘‘I understand and accept the punishment that Admiral Fargo imposed. He treated me fairly and with dignity and respect and I thank him for that,’’ Waddle, 41, said in a statement released by his civilian lawyer, Charles Gittins.