Much of the filming took place aboard a real U.S. Navy cruiser.
This film was a success at the box office, earning MGM a profit of $216,000 ($4M in 2019) according to studio records.
Most of the exterior and second unit filming took place in San Pedro, California, the de facto home port of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet at the time, before WWII.
By his ratings badge, Spud is a Chief Fire Controlman, and by the four service stripes, has been in the Navy at least 16 years.