The BEST episodes of McHale's Navy

Every episode of McHale's Navy ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of McHale's Navy!

A lively, light-hearted romp through the Pacific Theater of operations An experienced South Pacific Sea Dog by the name of Quinton McHale, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander into the U.S. Navy Reserve at the start of World War II, and made the Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed at the U.S. Naval Installation on the island of Taratupa in the Southwest Pacific. Assigned to his command were 6 free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies who loved to have fun, but who, though they usually ignored Navy regulations, did their jobs and did them well when duty called. The 73 'Family' included, among others, a con man and amateur Magician, a womanizing hunk, a dedicated Family man, a guitar-playing, moonshine-making Tennessee good ol' boy, and even a deserter from the Japanese Navy, who was an excellent cook. Second in command was Ensign Charles Parker, a young spit-and-polish, by-the-book Officer from Chagrin Falls Ohio, who was somewhat of a klutz.

Last Updated: 8/19/2026Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
H.M.S. 73
star
10.00
29 votes

#1 - H.M.S. 73

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/11/1963

Binghamton schemes to get McHale chosen for a Liaison Officer's position, in Sydney, Austrailia. But, when McHale finds out that he will be going alone, and for the duration, he and his crew cook up a plan to get him off the hook.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
One Enchanted Weekend
star
9.00
29 votes

#2 - One Enchanted Weekend

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/28/1963

Lovely Yvette Gerard has invited Parker to join her for a weekend at her island home. When Binghamton denies him leave, McHale works up a plan for Parker to have a "working vacation" on the island, which winds up with an unexpected bonus.

Directors: Edward Montagne
Portrait of a Peerless Leader
star
9.00
29 votes

#3 - Portrait of a Peerless Leader

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/25/1963

A Naval Personnel Officer is coming to check out McHale for a stateside training position. Binghamton leads McHale and his crew to believe that the Officer is coming to check out Binghamton for a promotion, and transfer, so they shape up, so that Leadbottom will ship out. But, when McHale finds out the real reason for the Officer's visit, he and his crew cook up a plan, to get him off the hook.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Alias Captain Binghamton
star
9.00
29 votes

#4 - Alias Captain Binghamton

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/16/1963

The 73 gets a new crew member, who turns out to be a trouble-maker. McHale and the 73 crew cook up a wild plan to get rid of him, but, when their plan backfires, they find themselves in hot water again. So, they turn to their new Crewman, and use his special physical qualities to their advantage.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
The Monster of McHale's Island
star
9.00
29 votes

#5 - The Monster of McHale's Island

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/13/1963

A Navy transport plane develops engine trouble, and is forced down at Taratupa. One of its passengers is an Admiral's Son, and a strict, by-the-book disciplinarian, as well as a spoiled brat. Binghamton sees to it that the kid is quartered on McHale's island, where he and his "little black book" cause quite a bit of trouble for McHale and his Crew. But McHale is soon fed up with the brat and takes matters into his own hands.

Directors: Oscar Rudolph
The Hillbillies of PT 73
star
8.00
29 votes

#6 - The Hillbillies of PT 73

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/6/1963

Willy is devastated when he gets a letter from his best girl “ Back home, in the hills of Tennessee“ Informing him that she's marrying another man. So, McHale and the 73 Crew go all out to pick up his spirits. But Captain Binghamton wants everyone on their best behavior for the upcoming inspection tour of a certain budget-conscious V.I.P.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Have Kimono, Will Travel
star
8.00
29 votes

#7 - Have Kimono, Will Travel

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1963

While trying to prevent McHale and the 73 Crew from putting on a show for the Taratupa personnel, Binghamton winds up in trouble along with McHale and the boys, and has to put on a show, himself, to help get them out of it.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
To Binghamton with Love
star
8.00
29 votes

#8 - To Binghamton with Love

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/1963

McHale and The Crew are in hot water again, this time, over the mis-use of the 73. But Binghamton drops the charges, when he gets into a bit of hot water, himself, and needs help from McHale and the boys.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Is There a Doctor in the Hut?
star
8.00
29 votes

#9 - Is There a Doctor in the Hut?

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/1963

The boys need to get to New Caledonia, but Binghamton denies leave. He changes his mind, however, when he finds that Movie Star Rita Howard – On a brief layover at New Caledonia, and, of whom Admiral Rogers is a big fan – Has a ‘cousin’ on Taratupa.

Uncle Admiral
star
8.00
29 votes

#10 - Uncle Admiral

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/27/1963

An Admiral from Naval Operations “ Who just happens to be a ranking member of the Promotions Board“ Is stopping in, briefly, at Taratupa, and Captain Binghamton dreams of Admiral's stars, especially when he learns that the Admiral has a very close relative stationed on Taratupa.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
McHale's Millions
star
8.00
29 votes

#11 - McHale's Millions

Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/30/1963

The 73 Crew investigates the crash site of a Japanese transport plane, which is loaded with 4 million dollars' worth of American currency. McHale convinces the boys that the bills are counterfeit, and, later, Gruber trades the supposedly phony money to Urulu, for some island trinkets. But when they find out that the money is real, McHale and The Crew must scheme to get it back.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Camera, Action, Panic
star
8.00
29 votes

#12 - Camera, Action, Panic

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/9/1963

A Combat Photographer comes to Taratupa, to film a P.T. crew in action. But trouble erupts, when Gruber swipes the Photographer's movie camera, for a little private enterprise. McHale and the 73 crew then have to scheme, to cover their own behinds, as well as the Photographer's.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Martin Roth
Nippon Nancy Calling
star
8.00
29 votes

#13 - Nippon Nancy Calling

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/21/1963

When a Japanese radio announcer broadcasts details about Captain Binghamton that only someone close to him would know, Binghamton immediately suspects McHale and The 73 Crew, and enlists Parker's aid in nailing the traitor.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Danny Arnold
The Confidence Game
star
8.00
29 votes

#14 - The Confidence Game

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1963

Parker requests a transfer, when he feels he's not getting the respect he deserves. So, to change his mind, and build up his self-confidence, McHale puts him in charge of an important test mission.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
The Binghamton Murder Plot
star
7.00
29 votes

#15 - The Binghamton Murder Plot

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/1963

After laying some unusually harsh punishments on McHale and the 73 Crew, Binghamton mistakenly gets the impression that McHale and his men are out to kill him.

Today I am a Man!
star
7.00
29 votes

#16 - Today I am a Man!

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/1963

Parker requests a transfer, when a cute blonde Nurse he's involved with unintentionally demoralizes him. So, McHale, The Crew, and the Nurse work out a plan to make him feel better about himself.

The Day the War Stood Still
star
7.00
29 votes

#17 - The Day the War Stood Still

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/17/1963

During a search for some stolen goods, while McHale and the 73 Crew are out on a recon mission, Binghamton catches Fuji, and holds him as a spy. McHale and the boys then cook up a complicated plan to spring him.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Parents Anonymous
star
7.00
29 votes

#18 - Parents Anonymous

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/23/1963

McHale and the 73 crew return from a mission, to find that a young Asian orphan girl has taken up residence on their island. They decide to keep her on the island, and go all out to make a happy home for her, and to keep her a secret from Binghamton. But Binghamton becomes suspicious, when he observes the crew's unusual behavior.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Martin Roth
The Mothers of PT 73
star
7.00
29 votes

#19 - The Mothers of PT 73

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/4/1963

Trouble ensues, when Parker inadvertently invites three of the 73 Crew's Mothers - including his own - to visit Taratupa for Mother's Day.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
A Wreath for McHale
star
7.00
29 votes

#20 - A Wreath for McHale

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/18/1963

McHale and the 73 Crew are missing, and presumed dead, and Binghamton uses the situation for attention from a visiting War Correspondent.

Directors: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Martin Roth
The Natives Get Restless
star
7.00
29 votes

#21 - The Natives Get Restless

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/21/1963

Some local natives - who depend on McHale and his men for their income - are up in arms over Binghamton's having made their village off-limits to McHale and his Crew. But Binghamton must re-establish good relations with them, for the upcoming inspection tour of The Undersecretary Of The Navy.

Directors: Norman Abbott
Writer: Bob Marcus
The Big Raffle
star
7.00
29 votes

#22 - The Big Raffle

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/7/1963

Christy finds out he's about to become a Father, so, while McHale is away in New Caledonia, Parker and the boys come up with a plan to raise money for expenses.

Writer: Marty Roth
The Ensign Gets a Zero
star
6.00
29 votes

#23 - The Ensign Gets a Zero

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/31/1963

Complications arise, when Gruber falsifies Parker's gunnery score to keep Parker from being shipped out.

One of Our Engines is Missing
star
6.00
29 votes

#24 - One of Our Engines is Missing

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/14/1963

The 73's engines are dying, and Binghamton uses the situation as an excuse to have McHale and his Crew reassigned. So McHale and the boys must scheme, to try to make the 73 healthy again.

Directors: Oscar Rudolph
Washing Machine Charlie
star
6.00
29 votes

#25 - Washing Machine Charlie

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/14/1963

A pesky Japanese Pilot - whom the base personnel have dubbed "Washing Machine Charlie" - is wreaking havoc, with his daily strafing runs on Taratupa, and McHale and the 73 Crew have an incentive to bring him down.

Directors: Oscar Rudolph