The novel takes place on the eve of World War I, between 1916 and 1917. It chronicles the intense daily operations and inner lives of the crew aboard the USS Delilah, a fictional, obsolete U.S. Navy "four-piper" destroyer. The ship is stationed on detached duty in the South Seas, primarily navigating the volatile waters of the Sulu Sea around the Philippines. 

The narrative is loosely based on Goodrich's personal experiences as a sailor. Rather than following a singular, traditional plotline, the book is structured around a series of interconnected, vivid episodes and vignettes.