Lt. Commander Thomas Dodge has dreamed all of his life about helming his own nuclear submarine. He's popular with his men, a brilliant tactician, and he has instincts of a nouveau Ulysses. But when his name comes up for a promotion, some members of the Naval brass blanch and bristle. Unfortunately, Tom Dodge not only has an ancient vessel to contend with, but he must also make sailors out of a motley crew from which six men dubiously emerge.