The Wackiest Ship in the Army is an American 1960 Eastmancolor CinemaScope comedy-drama war film directed by Richard Murphy and starring Jack Lemmon, Ricky Nelson, and Chips Rafferty.

It was a sailing vessel that originated in New Zealand and became part of the United States Navy during World War II.

The only crew member who knows how to work a ship with sails is eager young Ensign Tommy Hanson, who cost Crandall a yacht race with a mistake before the war.

Crandall is supposed to train a replacement to deliver a coastwatcher named Patterson to a location only a shallow-draft vessel can reach.

While most of the men are ashore escorting Patterson, a Japanese force from a passing warship boards the boat, capturing Crandall and the skeleton crew; when the landing party returns, they are also apprehended.

He sends the warning and the decision is made to abandon ship, as the guns open fire on the Echo and destroy her.

The United States Navy provided extensive cooperation allowing the producers to film at Pearl Harbor.

[4] Mae Tinee of the Chicago Daily Tribune wrote, "Mr. Lemmon was perfect casting as the [harassed] lieutenant, and young Ricky Nelson is likable as Ensign Hanson.