Down Periscope

Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge is being considered for a captaincy for the third time, but his past actions still haunt him. Three years earlier he earned a reputation for unorthodox methods after a dangerous 'brushing' incident near Murmansk and a drunken penile tattoo that read 'Welcome Aboard.' These episodes have left the Navy wary of his command style.

Rear Admiral Yancy Graham opposes Dodge, while Vice Admiral Winslow selects him for a demanding war game to test defenses against diesel submarines. Winslow orders Dodge to restore the rusty Balao-class Stingray and use it to infiltrate Charleston Harbor undetected and to sink a dummy warship in Norfolk Harbor with two live torpedoes. If he succeeds, Dodge will be considered for command of a nuclear submarine.

Graham handpicks the 'crew from hell' for Stingray, including Lieutenant Pascal as executive officer and Emily Lake as the diving officer to test women aboard submarines. The rest of the crew comprises Howard, Stepanak, Lovacelli, Sylvesterson, Jackson, Nitro, and Buckman, all chosen to push the limits of the mission. Dodge is kept as the central link between leadership and the crew.

A late-season storm off the Carolina coast provides a distraction as Stingray closes in on Charleston Harbor. The submarine disguises itself as a fishing trawler and uses signal flares to blend with commercial traffic as it advances undetected. The crew hopes to start the mission with minimal suspicion.

Stingray makes its first push toward Norfolk Harbor but runs into trouble and barely escapes the pursuing Orlando. Graham has reduced the containment area without authorization, forcing Stingray to improvise while losing some cover. Dodge decides to break contact with the Navy and head out to sea to continue the mission.

Tensions reach a fever pitch as Pascal berates the crew and attempts to seize command, accusing Dodge of hijacking his own boat. The crew begins turning against Pascal, and Dodge charges him with attempted mutiny. The atmosphere on Stingray grows volatile as leadership fractures.

On deck, Emily Lake witnesses Dodge and the crew dressed as pirates stage a mock execution by forcing a blindfolded Pascal to walk the plank toward a waiting fishing trawler. The spectacle underscores the crew's revolt and the captain's resolve to press on despite chaos. The incident foreshadows the breakdown of traditional order aboard Stingray.

Graham, determined to stop Dodge, assumes command of the Orlando from Knox for the second phase of the mission. Dodge executes a dangerous maneuver by threading Stingray between the propellers of a passing commercial supertanker to avoid sonar detection. The tension escalates as naval forces converge in the approach to Norfolk.

Stingray is located and pursued, and Dodge fires two live torpedoes at a target ship anchored in Norfolk Harbor from about 900 yards, effectively winning the war game. The daring strike demonstrates his willingness to break rules for a decisive result. The rival navy is left stunned by the audacious gambit.

After Stingray returns to port, Winslow chastises a humiliated Graham for attempting to derail Dodge and denies him promotion. He then congratulates Dodge and informs him that he will command a new Seawolf-class submarine with a 'proper crew.' Dodge requests that his Stingray crew be transferred with him, and Winslow agrees.

Winslow notes that Stepanak is his son, though he bears his mother's surname, adding a personal twist to the crew’s loyalties. Dodge is promised a rapid promotion to commander and a fully staffed crew for the new submarine. The team parts ways as Dodge dismisses his Stingray crew for shore leave.

Dodge accepts command of a new Seawolf-class submarine and looks forward to leading a fully staffed crew. The operation ends with the promise of his career taking a bold new direction after the daring mission. The Stingray crew exits for shore leave, awaiting their next assignment.