"[4] In 1940, the testimony of Chief Gunner's Mate Mike Mallory at a United States Navy Board of Inquiry regarding a fatal gun turret accident helps end the career of Lieutenant Tom Sands.

When the United States enters World War II, however, Sands rejoins the Navy as an enlisted man.

They and the rest of Mallory's men are disappointed to be assigned to man the guns of the freighter Sybil Gray.

Doctor Lieutenant Commander Murray and Myra are brought aboard to perform surgery on Bayless, seriously injured in the fighting.

When Myra is knocked out by falling debris, Sands abandons his machine gun to carry her to safety.

When "Babe" Duttson's radio intercepts a German message, Austrian-born "Dutch" Croner is able to interpret it.

Unbeknownst to the Americans, once the German captain realizes he cannot get away, he has one of the torpedoes rigged to explode after a delay, but the suspicious Sands foils that scheme.

The plan goes without a hitch the first three times, but an officer on the fourth submarine recognizes Dutch as a famous anti-Nazi violinist.

Thomas M. Pryor of The New York Times called the plot "hackneyed" but wrote that it was directed "with a good sense of melodramatic pace" and that the two lead actors played their roles well.