Suicide Fleet

Three friends Skeets O'Reilly, Baltimore Clark, and Dutch Herman are all in love with Sally, who secretly loves Baltimore. Just before they depart for the war, Skeets proposes, but Sally declines and reveals her true feelings for Baltimore. The emotional tension colors their decisions as they head into war.

At the outbreak of World War I, the three men enlist in the US Navy. They volunteer for dangerous duty, leaving Sally and their personal drama behind. Their decision marks a shift from romance to wartime service.

The three are assigned to a US Naval destroyer, with Baltimore promoted to chief petty officer because of prior service. Dutch and Skeets serve under him, creating a leadership dynamic shaped by loyalty and ambition. They begin their active duty together, facing the perils of the Atlantic.

A German U-boat intercepts a Norwegian sailing ship flying false colors, and the German officer boards to gather intelligence. The Norwegian captain reveals that the ship is actually a cover for German communications, a hidden 'message ship' for German forces. This revelation foreshadows the intelligence game the trio will play later.

The destroyer’s boarding party discovers the Norwegian ship’s hidden dispatches. Baltimore seises the coded messages before the ship sinks, a daring act of wartime intelligence. The capture of these dispatches becomes the cornerstone of a planned deception.

After decoding the messages, the Navy creates a fake 'message ship' to lure German subs. O'Reilly, Clark, and Herman are assigned to crew the decoy vessel. The plan relies on convincing the enemy that critical Allied communications are real.

The decoy ship cruises the Atlantic, hoping to attract a German submarine. The crew maintains the ruse, managing the facade of legitimate Allied communications. The tense patrol builds toward the anticipated confrontation.

A German officer grows suspicious of the crew’s legitimacy and considers sinking the decoy. Dutch manages to transmit a warning to the American fleet, buying critical time. The Germans press on, unaware that their deception may be unraveling.

With the warning in place, American destroyers speed toward the area and engage the German U-boats. The decoy vessel supports the defense as the fleet converges. The initial confrontation sets the stage for a dramatic naval outcome.

Two German U-boats are sunk by American destroyers, and the third is sunk by the sailing ship involved in the ruse. The trio’s deception proves instrumental in saving Allied ships. The battle closes with the U-boat threat eliminated and the crew celebrated as heroes.

The three men return to the United States as heroes, their mission having thwarted a major German raid. Their bravery under pressure solidifies their bond and earns them respect from peers and officers alike. The victory in combat marks a turning point in their careers.

With the war behind them, Baltimore marries Sally, the woman who inspired loyalty and love among the trio. The relationships formed under fire transition into civilian life as they settle into a new normal. The ending ties up the love triangle with marriage and lasting friendship.