The film tells the story of Edward G. Robinson, a retired Navy officer who works on building a new ship. Afterwards he joins the Navy as a senior crewman again. He drives the younger crewmen as hard as he drives himself. But not his strong words agains the crew make him earn respect. During a hard battle he proves himself as a hero. The training with the crew pays off and they can defeat the enemy. The younger men recognize that he was right to be tough on them and never question him again. In the end, the captain of the crew falls in love with the daughter of the though crewman Robinson.