7.9/1073 votesLoading...#1 - The Day They Captured Santa Claus
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/27/1962
Mchale decides for Christmas he and the crew of PT-73 will pay a visit to the Sister Monique and the children dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and elf outfits. Mchale would parachute from a plane first and meet the kids and PT-73 would follow a little while after. Mchale jumps in his Santa outfit but when he lands he finds the island was overtaken by Japanese and was captured. Mchale as usual cons he's why through the itterogation and he claims that a new secret weapon is on it's way, just then PT-73 arrives singing Christmas carrols and dressed in elf outfits. The Japanese commander becomes scared fearing that this was some kind new of physcological warfare and he surrenders.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Larry Markes
7.9/1063 votesLoading...#2 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.8/1069 votesLoading...#3 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.7/1067 votesLoading...#4 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1064 votesLoading...#5 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.6/1057 votesLoading...#6 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Larry Markes
- 7.6/1060 votesLoading...
#7 - McHale and His Schweinhunds
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1963
Parker is feeling somewhat depressed, after getting scared during a chase after a Japanese patrol boat, especially after Binghamton accuses him of cowardice. But Binghamton changes his mind, when Parker – During a test run, on the 73 – Spots a German U-Boat, and goes after it.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1040 votesLoading...
#8 - 36-24-73
Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 2/22/1966
A regulation-quoting lady Ensign tries to help McHale and the Crew make some much-needed money, by providing the participants for a beauty contest, and winds up helping them bag a German submarine, in the bargain.
Director: Hollingsworth Morse
Writer: N/A
7.5/10108 votesLoading...#9 - An Ensign for McHale
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/1962
Ensign Charles Parker reports for duty as the new Executive Officer of the PT 73, to a not-so-warm welcome from McHale and The Crew. But McHale is soon impressed by the Ensign, and persuades the boys to shape up, so that Parker can stay on as XO.
Director: N/A
Writer: Gene L. Coon
7.5/1075 votesLoading...#10 - PT 73, Where Are You?
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/1962
Binghamton grants McHale and the 73 Crew a week's liberty in New Caledonia, but they must postpone their trip, when the 73 turns up missing, and they have to scheme to get a replacement.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1072 votesLoading...#11 - Who Do the Voodoo?
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/22/1962
Chief Urulu demands monetary compensation from the Navy, for destroying the coconut trees on his island, and puts a curse on Binghamton, when he refuses to pay.
Director: N/A
Writer: Gene L. Coon
7.5/1064 votesLoading...#12 - The Battle of McHale's Island
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/1962
McHale and the boys cook up a scheme to keep Binghamton from building a new Officer's Club on McHale's island.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.5/1065 votesLoading...#13 - The Captain's Mission
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/10/1963
Binghamton's reputation as a ‘desk jockey' brings on a desire for some real combat experience, so, while McHale is away at New Caledonia, he assumes command of the 73, and goes out looking for action, with disappointing results.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Jerry Davis, Danny Simon
7.5/1068 votesLoading...#14 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1060 votesLoading...#15 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1059 votesLoading...#16 - Six Pounds from Paradise
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/7/1963
The Navy has issued a directive stating that all overweight Combat Officers will be shipped out, and, when Binghamton goes all out to see that McHale goes over the weight limit, the boys cook up a plan to keep him with them.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.5/1062 votesLoading...#17 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: Danny Arnold
7.5/1061 votesLoading...#18 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.5/1065 votesLoading...#19 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
7.5/1062 votesLoading...#20 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1055 votesLoading...
#21 - 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.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1056 votesLoading...
#22 - My Ensign, the Lawyer
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 12/17/1963
Tinker is arrested for the theft of Binghamton's printing press, and The Captain taps Parker to be Tinker's Defense Counsel, in a trial which Binghamton, himself, will preside over. Parker and McHale must then stall the proceedings, while Gruber and The Crew execute a plan to get Tinker off the hook, with a bit of creative evidence-tampering.
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1043 votesLoading...
#23 - Carpenter in Command
Season 2 Episode 33 - Aired 4/28/1964
In temporary command of the base, while Binghamton recovers from a broken leg, and drunk with power, Carpenter gets the goods on The Crew, and has them up for Court Martial on several serious charges. McHale and Parker must then scheme to get Binghamton back in command, and The Boys off the hook.
Director: Hollingsworth Morse
Writer: N/A
7.5/1051 votesLoading...#24 - McHale, the Desk Commando
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/6/1964
Binghamton fakes an illness, and checks into the base hospital, appointing McHale as temporary Base Commander, to face an unscheduled inspection by a tough Admiral. But Binghamton's plan backfires, when McHale and The Crew manage to make it through the inspection, and turn the tables on The Captain.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/1068 votesLoading...#25 - Operation Wedding Party
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/1962
McHale tries to figure out a way for Christy and his true love, Lt. Gloria Winters, to get married, even though it is against regulations for an officer to marry an enlisted man. But the lovebirds have even more problems: Binghamton schedules maneuvers on the evening of the wedding, and the Japanese schedule an all-out battle.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of McHale's Navy
Every episode of McHale's Navy ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of McHale's Navy!
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...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:ABC
Best Episodes Summary
"The Day They Captured Santa Claus" is the best rated episode of "McHale's Navy". It scored 7.9/10 based on 73 votes. Directed by Sidney Lanfield and written by Larry Markes, it aired on 12/27/1962. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Portrait of a Peerless Leader".