Final answer:
The next highest-ranking officer or the designated second-in-command assumes reporting senior responsibility when a subordinate commanding officer is unable to fulfill their duties.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a subordinate commanding officer dies, becomes incapacitated, is summarily relieved or detached for cause, or is seriously delinquent in submitting reports, the responsibility and authority usually fall to the next highest-ranking officer or the officer designated as the second-in-command. This is in line with military protocol, which requires a clear chain of command to ensure order and efficiency within the hierarchy. Depending on the specific rules and regulations of the military branch or organization, there may be formal guidelines that define the succession of command. These policies are crucial for maintaining command structure and control in situations where the leadership needs to be assumed quickly to continue operations seamlessly.