Lieutenant Rip Crandall is duped into commanding the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" – a true rubbish scow with a crew of misfits who don't know a jib from a jigger. None of them, even Crandall, are aware that this ship has a highly critical, top-secret mission to perform in Japanese-patrolled waters. If they reach their destination in one piece, their mission will save hundreds of allied lives.