Laid down on 1 September 1916, HMS Hood was launched on 22 August 1918. Despite modifications, it was not possible to incorporate all of the lessons of the Battle of Jutland. Hood was therefore the only one of the four planned Admiral-class battlecruisers completed, with the Admiralty deciding to pursue a new design incorporating all of the lessons from Jutland.
Commissioned into the Royal Navy on 15 May 1920, HMS Hood spent the inter war years on training and showing the flag exercises.
At the start of the Second World War, Hood was stationed in the Mediterranean and took part in the attack on the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940. During the attack, she targeted the French battleship Dunkerque, which was hit by four 15″ shells and forced to beach.
In May 1941 the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen made a breakout attempt to the Atlantic via the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland. On 24 May 1941 HMS Hood, accompanied by HMS Prince of Wales intercepted the pair. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, HMS Hood blew up and sank when a 15″ shell penetrated her armour and detonated a magazine. Only three men from her crew of 1418 survived.
HMS Hood Under ConstructionHMS Hood Under ConstructionHMS Hood Aft Section Showing Screws and the Area Where the Armour Belt will be FittedHMS Hood with armour belt yet to be fittedHMS Hood Under ConstructionHMS Hood Under ConstructionHMS Hood Aft Section Showing Screws and the Area Where the Armour Belt will be FittedHMS Hood Being Launched
Fitting Out
HMS Hood Amidships detailHMS Hood Amidships detailHMS Hood Main Armament detailHMS Hood during construction ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Mark II 15-inch turrets
Detail
HMS Hood Midship View 1940HMS HoodHMS Hood Men cleaning a funnel which has a hole in it caused by a splinterHMS Hood Main ArmamentHMS Hood Main and Secondary Armament
HMS Hood Unknown Date or Location Photos
Painting the side of HMS HoodHMS HoodHMS Hood HMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS Hood post 1932HMS HoodHMS Hood and HMS RepulseHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS HoodHMS Hood at anchor, with the carrier HMS Furious behindBattlecruisers HMS Hood and HMS Repulse, Odgen Point, Victoria, CanadaHMS HoodHMS Hood
HMS Hood in the 1920s
HMS Hood, shortly after commissioning, 1920HMS Hood January 1920HMS Hood in the 1920sHMS Hood in 1925
1924 World Tour
HMS Hood off Australia March 1924July 1924 HMS Hood seen in Panama during the World CruiseHMS Hood visiting Hawaii, June 1924HMS Hood seen at Station Pier, Melbourne, Australia 1924HMS Hood seen at Fremantle, Australia during the World Cruise 1924HMS Hood departing Honolulu, Hawaii during the World Cruise 1924HMS Hood departing Honolulu, Hawaii during the World Cruise 1924MS Hood (left) and HMS Repulse seen at Victoria, British Columbia 1924
HMS Hood in the 1930s
HMS Hood arriving at Portsmouth, England sometime between 1931-32HMS Hood, 1932HMS Hood seen between 1931-32HMS Hood seen between 1931-32HMS Hood seen in 1935HMS Hood HMS Hood seen in the Mediterranean Sea 1937HMS Hood seen between 1931-321937 HMS Hood seen at Portsmouth, EnglandHMS Hood seen in the Mediterranean Sea 1937HMS Hood seen in May 1937HMS Hood at Split, Yugoslavia in 1937HMS Hood at Split, Yugoslavia in 1937Late 1938 HMS Hood and HMS Zulu L-18 seen at Malta during the Spanish Civil WarHMS Hood returns to Portsmouth Harbour for repairs 4 February 1935
World War Two
HMS Hood seen in 1939HMS Hood at speed, taking water over her bows, circa 1939-40HMS Hood at speed in a heavy sea, circa 1940HMS Hood, circa 1940HMS Hood at anchor in the Moray Firth, circa 1940
Battle of the Denmark Strait
24 May 1941. This image taken from HMS Prince of Wales was the last photo ever taken of HMS Hood just before going into action against BismarckHMS Prince of Wales making smoke (centre) and HMS Hood seen on the right burning at Battle of the Denmark Strait
