Based on the Navy's real-life experiment with a steam engine in a WWII submarine chaser, the film follows the misadventures of the ill-prepared crew of a ship on trial runs. Led by a captain (Cooper) who is as inexperienced as his officers - they don't call them the "90-day wonders" for nothing! - they sail out to sea on an unforgettable journey. They'll either sink or swim - but they'll make history either way!