The Navy Comes Through

In 1940, Chief Gunner's Mate Mike Mallory testifies about a fatal gun turret accident. His testimony helps end the career of Lieutenant Tom Sands and reframes the dispute that has divided Sands and Mallory's world. The proceedings also touch Sands's relationship with Mallory's sister Myra.

After the inquiry, Sands resigns his commission and ends his romance with Myra, telling her there is no future for them. The personal consequence underscores the high stakes of the Navy's disciplinary scrutiny.

When the United States enters World War II, Sands reenlists as an enlisted sailor. He is assigned to Mallory and ends up serving aboard the freighter Sybil Gray, joining a crew that resents his presence. The uneasy dynamic from the earlier inquiry follows him back to duty.

Myra travels to see her brother off and ends up in the same convoy as a Navy nurse. Her return encounter with Sands rekindles old tensions and sets up the emotional undercurrents of the voyage. The moment foreshadows challenges ahead for both men.

Coxswain G. Berringer recognizes Sands, turning him into a pariah among the ship's sailors. The stigma compounds the strain within Mallory's unit and colors how the crew reacts to his actions. Sands feels the weight of reputational pressure aboard the voyage.

The Sybil Gray comes under a surface attack by a German U-boat. As guns trade blows, Doctor Murray and Myra stay aboard to perform surgery on the injured Bayless, choosing to stay with the convoy rather than delay it. The assault tests the crew's resolve and medical endurance.

A near encounter with a German pocket battleship occurs in the fog, increasing tension. During this moment, Sands confesses to Myra that he still loves her, revealing the personal stakes behind the battle.

Two German aircraft strafe and bomb the Sybil Gray. Myra is knocked out by falling debris, and Sands abandons his machine gun to carry her to safety. In his absence, Berringer is fatally wounded, and the crew quickly concludes that Sands is a coward.

Dutch Croner interprets a German radio intercept, telling Mallory that a U-boat supply vessel is nearby. Mallory coerces the freighter's captain to alter course and pursue the target, hoping to capture it.

Sands reveals a dangerous plan: loading unsafely booby-trapped torpedoes onto U-boats. He disobeys Mallory's order to head toward Belfast, deciding they can bait and topple the enemy with the traps rather than simply escorting home. The plan marks a drastic escalation in the mission.

The plan works for the first three submarines, but the fourth submarine recognizes Dutch as a famous anti-Nazi violinist, triggering a renewed confrontation. A second U-boat surfaces and joins the battle, and the Americans sink both submarines. Meanwhile, the hold of the supply ship catches fire amid the firefight.

Mallory is overwhelmed by fumes while dealing with the burning hold and is rescued by Sands. The act underscores Sands's bravery and complicates Mallory's earlier portrayal as negligent.

Returning to the United States, the Navy Board reconvenes and reinstates Sands as an officer. The verdict acknowledges the chaos of battle but clears Sands of negligent behavior, completing his arc.