Stand by for Action

Lieutenant Gregg Masterman, Harvard-educated and well-connected, enjoys a comfortable role as the junior aide to Rear Admiral Thomas. He fills his days with tennis and planning Navy social events, a life far removed from frontline command. This easy start sets up tensions as his growing sense of ambition clashes with real military stakes.

During a chance encounter, Masterman gives poor advice to Lieutenant Commander Roberts. Admiral Thomas responds by giving Roberts command of the refurbished destroyer USS Warren, a move that leaves Masterman reassigned as Roberts' executive officer. The rearrangement seeds a fraught but formative mentor-mentee dynamic between them.

Masterman learns that Henry Johnson, the ship's civilian caretaker, was part of Warren's original crew and knows its quirks. He helps Johnson reenlist in the Navy with his old rating so he can serve again aboard the Warren. This rekindles a personal bond between the ship, its crew, and the man who tended its past.

Despite an awkward start, Masterman begins to display naval instincts and grows into a capable officer under Roberts' mentorship. Roberts repeatedly warns him not to place individuals above mission when the situation demands. The training sharpens his resolve and competence at sea.

The Warren endures its first aerial attack from a Japanese plane. Masterman's earlier misstep or hesitancy contributes to a near-miss, underscoring the gulf between training and real action. The crew survives the encounter, but the threat is made stark and immediate.

Admiral Thomas commands a convoy voyage from Honolulu to San Francisco. When one escort destroyer breaks down, Warren is assigned to take its place, thrusting the ship into frontline duty. The crew steels itself for the demanding escort mission ahead.

Johnson suffers a concussion after a fall during the rough voyage. Masterman defies orders by reducing speed to give Johnson a smoother ride, buying him time to recover. Johnson remains delirious, reliving his WWI memories while the ship presses on.

Before reaching the convoy, the Warren spots a lifeboat from a torpedoed ship carrying two crewmen and evacuees from a maternity hospital: two pregnant women and 20 babies. Masterman and the crew must manage these unexpected passengers under tense conditions. Amid the danger, two births occur, adding a human dimension to the crisis.

Another Japanese plane cripples Admiral Thomas's flagship, damaging its steering. The Warren shoots the attacker down, but a battleship emerges from a fog bank and opens fire on the fleet. The Warren must act quickly to protect the damaged flagship and maintain formation.

Roberts outlines a daring plan: set up a heavy smoke screen, double back, then charge through and launch a torpedo spread into the battleship. When the captain is injured, Masterman must take command, while Johnson escapes sickbay and arrives at the helm to assist. The crew rallies under pressure to execute the bold maneuver.

The Warren fires a six-torpedo spread that detonates the battleship's magazines, completely destroying the capital ship. The decisive strike reverses the engagement and secures a crucial victory for the escort group. The crew's adaptation and courage underlines the ship's tactical ingenuity.

After the battle and the voyage back, a formal ceremony is held aboard the USS Warren in San Francisco. Admiral Thomas presents the Navy Cross to Roberts, Masterman, and a recovered Johnson, honoring their bravery and leadership. The award caps a transformative journey from staff to frontline command.