Continuity: When British ship Lydia attacks 4 French ships in a Spanish harbour, the first lt. (Mr Bush) is injured in the LEFT leg. Later when they are being transported to Paris for trial, his RIGHT leg is injured

Factual error: All of the Lydia's lieutenants are wearing epauletes on their left shoulders.only lieutenant commanders were permitted to wear one on the left shoulder, while the right shoulder was reserved for captains of less than 3 years' seniority.

Factual error: The film is set in 1807 and Arthur Wellesley is referred to as the Duke Of Wellington. He didn't become a Duke until 1814.

Factual error: When Hornblower, after escaping from the French, arrives in Portsmouth to be interviewed by the Admiral, he goes aboard the flagship. No captain, in wartime, would have the sails removed from his ship, yet the flagship's spars are bare.

Plot hole: When Hornblower arrives home from the Pacific, he meets his son, a baby in a cradle. He is given the Sutherland, sails to Spain, is captured and escapes, and returns to England a hero..all in under a year. However, upon arriving in Portsmouth to see the Admiral, he visits his son, now a child of 3 or 4.

Factual error: As the Natividad appears, the lookout signals "ship's royals horizon, southeast" by using a shuttered lantern and morse code.unfortunately, neither the lantern nor the code had been invented in 1807. Flag hoists during the day, and rockets and flares at night were the methods of signaling at that time.

Continuity: When the Sutherland engages the four French ships, her masts are shot to doll rags, with the upper masts and fighting tops plunging to the deck. However, the lower shrouds and ratlines, which are attached to the tops, remain intact.

Plot hole: The day after informing Lady Barbara that he was married, Hornblower, in a rush to get home, orders the t'gallants set..but the ship, as shown in the prior scene, already has them set.