- John Wayne as Captain Rockwell Torrey
- Kirk Douglas as Commander Paul Eddington
- Patricia Neal as Maggie Haynes
- Brandon de Wilde as Lieutenant J.G. Blake
- Paula Prentiss as Ensign Annalee Dorne
- Tom Tryon as Lieutenant Commander Cliff Vendever
- Burgess Meredith as Commander Max Fabian
- Franchot Tone as Admiral Broderick
- Patrick O'Neal as Lieutenant J.G. Lewis
- James Mitchum as Ensign Paul Eddington, Jr.
- Jill Haworth as Nurse Karen MacLear
- Bruce Cabot as Admiral Kimmel
- Stanley Holloway as Admiral Brockman
- Carroll O'Connor as Yeoman
- Larry Gates as Admiral Halsey
- Slim Pickens as Chief Pharmacist's Mate Andy Doyle
- Harry Carey, Jr. as Captain Merill
- Richard Anderson as Captain Torrey's Communications Officer
- Bill Hinzman as Radarman