The entire ship's company is seen assembling on the deck of a South Dakota class battleship (possibly the USS Indiana) during World War 2. Her 16-inch guns,in a triple turret,loom over the assemblage. (The gun barrels appear to have bronze collars around their bases.) A variety of other vessels, including U.S. warships, are anchored in the background. The location is somewhere in the Pacific. The Navy Captain, assuming command of the ship, and an Admiral step upon a platform, followed by the Captain,being relieved of command, who salutes the Admiral, and steps back. The Admiral addresses the assemblage. Then the Captain assuming command, reads his orders. A cloud of black smoke appears momentarily in the background. Camera pans to Gun turret and ship's superstructure above heads of the sailors. The Admiral and two Captains join the ship's company in saluting (perhaps as national anthem is played). Scene shifts to two Navy officers wearing garrison caps, posing on the ship, and shaking hands. Waters of a bay and hills are in background. Camera then shows the new ship's Captain and the Admiral walking past some of the ship's officers, as the ceremony is ended.
Film begins showing a two star admiral and another ship's officer conversing as they look at maps of a mission. on a deck atop the ship an officer is briefing Marines as he stands over a large map of an atoll dominated by a Japanese airfield in the Marshall Islands. In a room below decks, a senior officer discusses mission plans with members of his staff. A Filipino steward brings him a cup of coffee. On deck a sailor operates a signal light. On an aircraft carrier, Douglas Dauntless aircraft are seen being brought to the flight deck by elevator and then taking off at dusk. Glimpse of several of them joining up in formation high above. Marines are seen on deck of the transport ship USS Harry Lee (APA-10). Next, Higgins boats from the ship are being lowered over her side. Another transport ship, the USS La Salle (AP-102) is seen with some of her Higgins boats in the water beside her. Closeup of Marines and a sailor descending rope ladders from another troop transport ship, seen to be the USS Bolivar (APA-34). A Marine Colonel in a steel helmet and another officer look through binoculars. Next, U.S. navy warships begin to bombard the targeted Japanese held island with heavy guns. Sailors firing smaller guns from a ship's deck. Smoke rising from a burning ship in the distance. Scene changes to gun camera footage from American planes strafing Japanese aircraft parked on an airfield and from an American plane shooting down a Japanese aircraft in flight. More views from aircraft strafing Japanese aircraft on an airfield and another of a Japanese airplane destroyed in flight.
Fleet Admiral Chester W Nimitz speaks to naval officers and civilians, on third anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Sailors salute as he boards a ship. Admiral Nimitz with Admiral Halsey. Fleet of The United States ships underway to attack Japanese enemy. Battleships fire guns at enemy. Rockets being fired from U.S. ships. U.S. amphibious landing at Leyte. Japanese military show their commitment to fight. U.S. Navy crews at work aboard ships preparing to engage Japanese fleet at Leyte Gulf. Heavy U.S. naval gunfire. U.S. navy aircraft take off from carrier and engage Japanese in aerial combat. U.S. aircraft bomb Japanese ships and U.S. ships defend against Japanese air attacks. Japanese survivors floating on debris and life rafts in the ocean. U.S. wounded in stretcher. Dead Americans honored at sea by their comrades in an official ceremony.
Damage control parties fight a blaze on flight deck of U.S. aircraft carrier struck by Japanese Kamikaze airplane. They employ hoses and throw torrents of water on fire. Heavy black smoke billows from the fire. (World War II period).
An American Air Force fighter bomber dives at a Japanese position in hills, during World War Two. The aircraft releases bombs that explode on the targets.
Glimpses of ship's island, deck crews, antiaircraft guns and F6F aircraft parked with wings folded on the USS Yorktown (CV-10), in the Pacific, during World War 2. A U.S. escort carrier and a destroyer nearby. Flak low on horizon as U.S. ships fire at a attacking Japanese airplane flying only a few feet above the water. Crew of the USS Yorktown stands watching as the attacking airplane turns and crashes at the stern of the Yorktown. Another Japanese attacker flies just over the stern and is hit by Yorktown's gunners, bursting into flames and crashing into the sea, with a huge explosion. An F6F recovers on the flight deck.The United States class light cruiser Cleveland.