It’s 1914 and war has gripped the world…
Lieutenant Thomas Knowlton awakes after a night of heavy drinking with Hans Erhardt, a German P.O.W who has been interned at the neutral port of Manila.
Much to Knowlton’s dismay, he soon realises he’s missed his Submarine. It had left without him!
Baker an inexperienced sailor and friend of Knowlton’s, covers for his absence. However, without Knowlton to do his duty, the submarine sinks to the ocean floor, with all those on board perishing inside.
What is Knowlton to do? He’s has been presumed dead, as well as being the presumed cause of the tragedy for not doing his duty. If he’s found to still be alive he would certainly be court martialled and executed.
To make things worse, he sees Erhardt has stolen his uniform and is boarding a Dutch liner to make his way back to the war.
This was all Erhardt’s fault!
He now goes by the name of Tom Knowles and has been making a living as a hard-working, hard-drinking riveter in shipyards around the world.
He has been doing well for himself.
Soon, however, he hears about a German U-boat, U-38 that has been targeting and wreaking havoc among neutral American merchant vessels. This particular U-boat appears to be captained by none other than Hans Erhardt…
It can only be a matter of time before the U.S.A enters the theatre of war and Tom Knowles can enact his vengeance…