Suicide Fleet 1931

Love triangle on the boardwalk

Three friends Skeets O'Reilly, Baltimore Clark, and Dutch Herman are all in love with Sally, who secretly loves Baltimore. Just before they depart for the war, Skeets proposes, but Sally declines and reveals her true feelings for Baltimore. The emotional tension colors their decisions as they head into war.

Enlistment at the outbreak of WWI

At the outbreak of World War I, the three men enlist in the US Navy. They volunteer for dangerous duty, leaving Sally and their personal drama behind. Their decision marks a shift from romance to wartime service.

Assigned to a destroyer with leadership roles

The three are assigned to a US Naval destroyer, with Baltimore promoted to chief petty officer because of prior service. Dutch and Skeets serve under him, creating a leadership dynamic shaped by loyalty and ambition. They begin their active duty together, facing the perils of the Atlantic.

Norwegian ship reveals a German message ship

A German U-boat intercepts a Norwegian sailing ship flying false colors, and the German officer boards to gather intelligence. The Norwegian captain reveals that the ship is actually a cover for German communications, a hidden 'message ship' for German forces. This revelation foreshadows the intelligence game the trio will play later.

Boarding party seizes the dispatches

The destroyer’s boarding party discovers the Norwegian ship’s hidden dispatches. Baltimore seises the coded messages before the ship sinks, a daring act of wartime intelligence. The capture of these dispatches becomes the cornerstone of a planned deception.

From dispatches to a fake message ship

After decoding the messages, the Navy creates a fake 'message ship' to lure German subs. O'Reilly, Clark, and Herman are assigned to crew the decoy vessel. The plan relies on convincing the enemy that critical Allied communications are real.

Decoy ship patrols the Atlantic

The decoy ship cruises the Atlantic, hoping to attract a German submarine. The crew maintains the ruse, managing the facade of legitimate Allied communications. The tense patrol builds toward the anticipated confrontation.

Suspicion rises among the Germans

A German officer grows suspicious of the crew’s legitimacy and considers sinking the decoy. Dutch manages to transmit a warning to the American fleet, buying critical time. The Germans press on, unaware that their deception may be unraveling.

Warning reaches the fleet; battle begins

With the warning in place, American destroyers speed toward the area and engage the German U-boats. The decoy vessel supports the defense as the fleet converges. The initial confrontation sets the stage for a dramatic naval outcome.

Sinking of the U-boats and victory

Two German U-boats are sunk by American destroyers, and the third is sunk by the sailing ship involved in the ruse. The trio’s deception proves instrumental in saving Allied ships. The battle closes with the U-boat threat eliminated and the crew celebrated as heroes.

Return home as heroes

The three men return to the United States as heroes, their mission having thwarted a major German raid. Their bravery under pressure solidifies their bond and earns them respect from peers and officers alike. The victory in combat marks a turning point in their careers.