British Naval officer Humphrey Fairweather (David Tomlinson) has an uncontrollable passion for building guided missiles that are constantly going off at the wrong time and causing considerable damage to the naval bases he keeps getting bounced between.
Unfortunately, the Navy can’t get rid of him because of his family connections (he is related to the First Sea Lord) and so in desperation, the Admiralty gives him command of the ancient destroyer HMS Berkeley – the oldest member of the “Mothball Fleet” which has been without a commanding officer in the wilds of Suffolk for nearly two years.
It turns out the skeleton crew of the rusty old destroyer – led by wily CPO Doherty (Peter Sellers) – is running a highly profitable but illegal money-making scheme with the local villagers. “Berkeley Enterprises Ltd” runs a one-day laundry service and sells eggs (hatched by chickens kept on the bridge), pork, rum, cigarettes, sheets, bakery goodies and government-supplied paint at cut-price rates.
Lt. Humphrey Fairweather
David Tomlinson CPO Doherty
Peter Sellers Admiral Foley
Wilfrid Hyde-White Lily
Vera Day Susanne
Liliane Sottane Flag Lieutenant
Tom Gill Nelson
Michael Goodliffe Perkins
Lionel Murton Cooky
John Warren Steady Barker
Lionel Jeffries Bunts
Howard Williams Chippie
Peter Collingwood Webster
Barry Lowe Bennett
Edwin Richfield Scouse
David Lodge Lofty
Max Butterfield Bates
Sam Kydd Coombes
Basil Dignam Cmdr. Price
Peter Coke Regulating Petty Officer
Jack McNaughton Commander
Patrick Cargill
