When Binghamton discovers how superstitious McHale and The Crew are, he devises a plan to scare them into transferring out. But, when McHale and The Boys find that they've been duped, they cook up their own plan to scare Binghamton into canceling their transfers.

With his letters home, Gruber has led his girlfriend to believe that he's a Lieutenant Commander, and, when the girl pays a surprise visit to Taratupa, McHale reluctantly agrees to help him save face, by allowing him to act out the part. The charade almost gets them into big trouble, but winds up working out for the good, when it helps foil Binghamton's plan to have McHale assigned to a British Liaison's position.

After Parker nearly drowns Binghamton, during an accident on the 73, The Captain calls for a Fitness Board Inquiry to determine Parker's fitness for duty. McHale and The Boys then execute a clever plan - Involving nitrous oxide, or 'Laughing Gas' - To help Binghamton to change his mind, which backfires, when an Admiral from the board arrives early, to investigate Parker's situation.

After Binghamton devises a scheme to frame McHale and The Crew for the theft of his wallet, Parker is arrested, and charged with the crime. But the Ensign is cleared, at the last minute, when McHale and The Boys produce Parker's star witness - An alligator that has taken a special liking to Parker.

Binghamton has an ulterior motive, when he temporarily assigns a clumsy, bumbling British Sub-Lieutenant to the 73 Crew. When the Britisher captures Fuji, and places him under arrest as a spy, McHale and Parker work up a rather risky plan to free their Japanese friend, which is complicated by a visit from the Sub-Lieutenant's Admiral-Cousin.

After Parker is passed over again, for a promotion, Gruber devises a way for him to vent his frustrations, which winds up landing the Ensign in the brig, pending Court Martial. Then, when they find out about an upcoming visit by the head of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee - Whose name just happens to be Parker - McHale and The Boys work up a scheme to get their XO off the hook.

Binghamton tries to frame the 73 Crew for the manufacture and sale of illegal liquor, and has them all thrown into the brig, pending an investigation. But, with a little outside help, McHale and the guys manage to escape from jail, and execute a complicated scheme to make The Captain look like a lunatic, in the eyes of the Fleet Legal Officer.