Based on the true story of the 1940 rescue of the tanker MV San Demetrio by parts of her own crew after she had been set afire in the middle of the Atlantic by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer and then had been abandoned. When one of the lifeboats drifted back to the burning tanker the day after, and found that she still hadn't exploded, they decided to board her and put out the fires. Eventually, they managed to start the engine again and decided to try to reach Britain against all odds.
Walter Fitzgerald
as Chief Engineer Charles Pollard - M.V. San Demetrio
Ralph Michael
as 2nd. Officer Hawkins - M.V. San Demetrio
Neville Mapp
as 3rd. Engineer Willey - M.V. San Demetrio
Barry Letts
as Apprentice John Jones - M.V. San Demetrio
Frederick Piper
as Boatswain W.E. Fletcher - M.V. San Demetrio
Gordon Jackson
as Messboy John Jamieson - M.V. San Demetrio
Robert Beatty
as 'Yank' Preston - M.V. San Demetrio
Mervyn Johns
as Greaser John Boyle - M.V. San Demetrio
James Donald
as Gunnery Officer - H.M.S. Jervis Bay
Nigel Clarke
as R.J.E Dodds - Shipping Manager
Arthur Young
as Captain George Waite - M.V. San Demetrio
Michael Allen
as Cadet Roy Housden - M.V. San Demetrio
