Flagwaving story of a new American destroyer, the JOHN PAUL JONES, from the day her keel is laid, to what was very nearly her last voyage. Among the crew, is Steve Boleslavski, a shipyard welder that helped build her, who reenlists, with his old rank of Chief bosuns mate. After failing her sea trials, she is assigned to the mail run, until caught up in a disparate battle with a Japanese sub. After getting torpedoed, and on the verge of sinking, the Captain, and crew hatch a plan to try and save the ship, and destroy the sub.
Edward G. Robinson
as Steven 'Boley' Boleslavski
Glenn Ford
as Mickey Donohue
Edgar Buchanan
as Kansas Jackson
Marguerite Chapman
as Mary Boleslavski
Regis Toomey
as Lt. Cmdr. Clark
Warren Ashe
as Lt. Bert Marton
Leo Gorcey
as Seaman Sarecky
Edward Brophy
as Engineer Casey
Eddy Waller
as Marty, a riveter
Roger Clark
as Chief Engineer
Curt Bois
as Swab with large nose
Kenneth MacDonald
as Admiral (Clark's CO)