The top mistakes in The Battle of the River Plate http://www.moviemistakes.com/film1550 en Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:56:04 +0000 9419 In the final shot, just as the credits are rolling, the British warships are sailing away with the sun setting behind them. In an earlier scene the radio commentator says that the sun is setting and a shot of the sun touching the surface of the sea is shown. 9904 Some of the gun crews (usually skulking behind the guns) on the "Graf Spee" are wearing their American helmets. (U.S. Navy refused permission for German helmets to be worn, but regardless of the reason it is still a movie mistake.) 134022 Near the end of the film, the crew of the Sheffield are ordered to stand at attention, salute and "face to starboard!" They are all facing to port, including the captain, who gave the order. 9418 At the end of the film the fleet were instructed to sail towards the burning vessel, which would have meant that they were travelling west - into the setting sun. Given the location of Montevideo on the River Plate it is somewhat dubious that the sun would set over the sea even at that time of year. 38996 When the filmmakers were choosing existing warships to play the roles of the ships in the battle, they didn't quite match up some of the details. The Graf Spee is represented by USS Salem which has three triple gun turrets - yet in the Captain's cabin is a photograph of the real Graf Spee which had just two turrets. Likewise, HMS Ajax is represented by a Sheffield class cruiser with four triple gun turrets - yet in the fire control area there are just eight lights to indicate guns ready to fire.