The good ship Harvard will face the strongest enemy broadside of the season tonight, as a Navy swimming team that sank Yale last week levels its guns on coach Bill Brooks' unbeaten (4-0) varsity. The battle will take place at 8:30, in the IAB.

A Crimson loss to the Midshipmen would indicate much trouble and perhaps certain defeat at the hands of the Elis, while victory would drive the bookies mad.

Although the crises will start with the opening medley relay (in which Navy registered a tight 3:47.5 last week), attention will focus on the anticipated duel in the sprints between varsity Olympian Bruce Hunter and Middy Ashley Norfleet. Norfleet smashed two Annapolis records against Yale, 22.2 in the 50 freestyle and 49.5 in the 100.

Idle for Three Weeks

Since the varsity has not competed in three weeks, it may have a slight disadvantage against the well-oiled Navy machine. "Navy is a sensational swimming team, but this is just the meet we want," Billi Brooks said yesterday. Whether he wants it or not, just to stay in contention Brooks will have to throw all his talent into a meet for the first time this season.

Most of the top men may have to compete three times. Hunter, Bob Kaufman in the backstroke and individual medley, and John Pringle in the butterfly will absolutely have to bring in firsts.

Midshipmen to watch will be "Colonel" Don Griffin, Eastern breaststroke champion, and Gay Hopkins, who last week broke up what Brooks calls the Yale "mortgage" in the 220 freestyle.

Both teams are very strong in the sprints, where Navy strength told against Yale. Kaufmann and Bill Zentgraf supplement Hunter, while Don Diget, who won the Eli meet with a fantastic final-relay anchor leg, and Dick Oldham back up Norfleet.