The Open Sea

This is the narrative's primary overall setting. With the exception of occasional brief forays into Krause's personal history, the narrative unfolds on the choppy, unpredictable surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Keeling

The Keeling is the U.S. Navy destroyer captained by the novel's central character, Commander George Krause. The action of the novel unfolds on, and in some cases around, the Keeling as it leads a convoy of ships across the North Atlantic from America to Europe.

The Pilothouse

The pilothouse is the command center of the Keeling. This is the center of the novel's action, where Krause issues the orders that help him accomplish his mission of keeping safe the convoy of ships for which he and the Keeling are responsible.

Krause's Quarters

The main action of the novel begins and ends in Krause's quarters on board the Keeling. It is there that he...