[1] Lieutenant Humphrey Fairweather, a well-meaning but accident-prone naval officer with a passion for rockets, is posted where he can (so the navy hopes) cause no further damage.

He discovers that the ship is woefully under strength and is forced to contend with the schemes of his bosun, Chief Petty Officer Doherty.

He and the crew are running several profitable businesses, including a same-day laundry, selling naval rum and cigarettes to the local pub, the Pig and Whistle, and making pies and pastries for sale to the villagers.

Whilst angrily haranguing them, Admiral Foley accidentally launches Fairweather's experimental rocket, and the ship is sunk.

Instead, he is promoted to lieutenant-commander and posted to Woomera to continue his rocketry research, accompanied by Susanne, the attractive French girl he met at the pub.

... New and time-honoured gags are vigorously mixed by a popular and shrewdly chosen team and slickly served against agreeable and appropriate backgrounds. ...

Peter Sellers displays versatility as the artful bosun, Wilfred Hyde White scores as the wily old Admiral Foley, Liliane Sottane makes a promising debut as Susanne, and the supporting types,stock, but thoroughly dusted, are neatly deployed.