You’re in the Navy Now

Harkness was chosen because of his civilian engineering background and Rutgers education. His selection wasn't based on naval experience, it came through an IBM card hole, meaning a computer randomly picked him for the secret project. The Navy needed someone with technical knowledge to supervise the experimental steam engine and evaporator-condenser system.

The Navy deliberately assembled a crew of civilians and newly inducted officers, known as "90-day wonders," to test whether ordinary people could quickly learn to operate unproven technology. Admiral Tennant later revealed this was the real purpose of the entire project, not to prove the steam engine worked, but to determine if novices could master it under wartime pressure.

The base crew nicknamed the ship "USS Teakettle" as the experimental vessel struggled through its early trials. The name mocked the ship's frequent failures and the steam engine's propensity for problems, becoming a symbol of the chaotic testing phase.

The officers orchestrated a base boxing championship to boost crew morale, which had sunk after repeated failures during testing. They trained engine-room sailor Wascylewski as their representative and bet heavily on him to give the crew a unifying purpose and something to celebrate.

Wascylewski broke his rib during training, forcing Ensign Barbo, the engineering officer with little formal engineering training, to step in as the ship's representative. Despite being an unlikely substitute, Barbo won the championship, giving the crew a much-needed morale boost.

The crew had already placed heavy bets on their fighter, making Wascylewski's injury a critical problem that required quick improvisation.

The experimental steam propulsion system was difficult to control, and the inexperienced crew struggled to maneuver the ship properly. Despite their improvisation during the trial, they lost control and rammed an aircraft carrier, causing a humiliating setback that could have ended the project.

At the board of inquiry, Admiral Tennant revealed that the Navy already knew experts could run the experimental steam system. The actual test was whether a largely civilian, inexperienced crew could quickly learn to operate the new technology under wartime pressure. The project was designed to evaluate training methods and crew adaptability, not just the equipment itself.

Throughout the film, the repeated failures seem to threaten the project, but Tennant's interest never wavers, hinting that the struggles were part of the plan.

After the crew survived the tumultuous trials, the Navy replaced the experimental steam power plant with a marine diesel engine. This change marked a turning point, the experimental phase was over, and the ship was now being retrofitted for reliable, practical wartime service rather than continued testing.

With the new diesel propulsion system installed, PC-1168 was reassigned to convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. This assignment validated the crew's perseverance, instead of being scrapped after the embarrassing failures, the ship was given an important wartime role protecting merchant shipping.

Ellie Harkness, John's wife, enlisted in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), giving her access to information about Admiral Tennant's activities. She passed this information to her husband, providing a vital link between the ship's operations and the broader strategic context of the project.

The crew smuggled distilled water aboard to ensure the experimental evaporator-condenser system could operate properly during the sea trial. The experimental system required high-quality water to function, and the ship needed every advantage to succeed under stress.