Canadian Major James Wilson is assigned lead his troops across the English channel in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He trains his regulars for the invasion knowing many, if not all, may never survive the assault. His superiors, too, are skeptical, because Wilson`s last commando ended with a massacre. Wilson himself is still plagued by memories of this suicidal mission. In order to prepare his men better this time he chooses some quite unorthodox training methods. What makes his mission even more difficult is that Captain Franklin, a British sea officer, opposes the plan and starts off on a personal vendetta against Wilson since he does not want to risk the lives of his crew. Against both men`s will they are thrown together on the same mission when Franklin is slated to command the mine sweepers that transport Wilson's troops to their destination. They face overwhelming odds and a barrage of cannon fire from the Nazi stronghold on the Normandy coast.