World War Two drama starring Trevor Howard and Richard Attenborough. HMS Ballantrae is a delapidated ex-US Navy destroyer, lent by the Americans to a desperate Royal Navy fighting to keep the Atlantic sea lanes open. Her captain, Lt Commander Fraser (Howard), struggles not only to keep her operational but also to overcome problems arising from his own shady past and the inexperience and lack of discipline of his newly recruited crew. When the Ballantrae is selected to play a vital role in one of the most daring commando raids of the entire war, Fraser must act swiftly to lick his unit into shape and prepare for the fight of his life.