Farewell the Hood by Simon Atack A study of HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, as she steams majestically through the Swept Channel departing Scapa Flow on 22nd May 1941. Having fuelled at the naval base in Scotland, she steers clear of floats suspending torpedo and submarine nets, as she heads for open water and the North Sea. The crew of a naval cutter wave farewell as the mighty battleship departs upon what will prove to be her final voyage: just a few days later she encountered the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Straits. In the exchange that followed, Bismarck's second and third salvoes made direct hits on Hood. Her magazines exploded and the mighty battleship sank in minutes taking all but three of her complement of 1420 sailors with her.Prints are signed by Ted Briggs the only living survivor.   
HMS Hood - Operation Catapult by Anthony Saunders The pride of the British fleet, The Mighty Hood as she was known, was launched in 1918. Weighing in at over 40,000 tons she was 860 feet long and had eight 15 inch guns, at her launch she was more than a match for any adversary. Hood sailed the world in the inter-war years and was admired in every foreign port she visited, however with a lack of major refits in this time the second world war found the Hood unprepared for a major battle, On the 24th of May 1941 the German battleship Bismarck found Hoods achilles heel within only a few salvos, namely her inadequate deck armour. Hood exploded in a huge fireball from which only three sailors survived. Here HMS Hood is seen with Force H in the Mediterranean. Winston Churchill knew that the powerful French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir could fall into German hands at any time and that the threat had to be removed by any means. On the 3rd of July 1940 the French fleet was duly dispatched by Force H. The Strasbourg being the only French battleship able to make her escape. Hodd is depicted opening fire at 17.55 hours with the battleships Resolution and the destroyer HMS Foxhound to her stern. 
Final Farewell by Randall Wilson HMS Hood leads HMS prince of Wales past the Orkney islands as they build up steam to make a course to intercept the mighty German battleship Bismarck 
HMS Hood by Ivan Berryman Fully dressed and resplendent, HMS Hood is pictured preparing for King George Vs review of the Fleet in July 1935 as other capital ships take up their positions around her. Ramillies can be seen off Hoods port bow, Resolution astern, whilst just beyond her boat deck, the mighty Nelson gently nudges into position.
HMS Hood by Ivan Berryman Pride of the Royal Navy, the mighty Hood rolls majestically in the north Atlantic swell as HMS Prince of Wales holds station off her starboard bow.
The Mighty Hood by Randall Wilson As Flagship Battle Cruiser Squadron HMS Hoods bow down about to take it green on the Med, Station October 1936.
HMS Hood Opens Fire, May 24th, 1941 by Marii Chernev signed by Marii Chernev and Ted Briggs, the sole surviving crew member of the HMS Hood. Without a doubt, the most famous Naval surface action of World War II saw the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, versus the terror of the German Kriegsmarine, KMS Bismarck. Action commenced at 0552 1/2 hours, as Hood's two forward turrets fired the first salvoes. Half a minute later, Prince of Wales forward turrets followed suit. Though it was at its extreme range, it is possible that Hood was attempting to use her Type 284 gunnery radar to direct her bombardment (this is subject to debate though). Prince of Wales, her Type 284 malfunctioning (attempts were made to use it, but it was believed to be defective), was forced to shoot optically. This too is a source of debate. Hood's first salvo fell near Prinz Eugen but did not actually hit. Prince of Wales's opening salvo was observed to be some distance away from Bismarck. The Germans were shocked to learn that the approaching vessels were not cruisers - they were in fact major combatants - a King George V class battleship (which they assumed was KGV herself, as Prince of Wales was thought to still be working up) and even worse, the famed and feared battle cruise HMS Hood (apparently the men aboard Bismarck knew it was Hood before the crew of Prinz Eugen). Her legend and reputation were great and she was well respected in the Kriegsmarine. This is backed up by the statements of Bismarck crew who were later quoted as saying that Hood, in particular, was the 'terror of their war games'. In comparison, Hood was well built for her day (1920), but by 1941 was nonetheless an aged battle cruiser. She had adequate protection in some key areas, but not all. Because of her machinery, she was filled with large, somewhat open spaces. Though her speed had been reduced over the years, at 29 knots, she was still fast for her size. Her guns were deadly, but she suffered from out dated gunnery systems. She did boast advanced radar, but her crew had hardly enough time to become proficient in its use. Simply put, in a one on one fight, Bismarck could absorb more damage while firing faster and more accurately than Hood. Bismarck could take AND give more in battle. Each ship had the ability to sink or severely damage the other, but the advantage clearly was with Bismarck. This is not totally a negative reflection on Hood, but simply an observance that Bismarck was 20 years more modern than Hood. Bismarck's design reflected all that had been learned between the times the two ships were built.HMS Hood During the Fleet Review of 1935 by Ivan Berryman Fully dressed and resplendent, HMS Hood is pictured preparing for King George Vs review of the Fleet in July 1935 as other capital ships take up their positions around her. Ramillies can be seen off Hoods port bow, Resolution astern, whilst just beyond her boat deck, the mighty Nelson gently nudges into position.
HMS Hood. Built at Clydebank and launched on the 22nd August 1918. The pride of the Royal Navy. In the autumn of 1939 she operated in the North Sea, and it was here she was attacked by JU88,s and one bomb hit HMS Hood, but it failed to explode and only caused minor damage. HMS Hood took part in the bombardment of Mers-el-Kibir on the 3rd July 1940. In company with HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Hood engaged the German Battleship Bismarck and the Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. in the Denmark Straits, 24th May 1941. HMS Hood received several heavy hits and blew up and sank quickly, only 3 of her crew survived... Displacement 42,100 tons, and after modifications, upto 49,140 tons. Speed 31knots, and after modifications 28 knots. Main armament 8 15inch Guns, secondary armament of 12 x 5.5 inch guns
HMS Hood Passing Under the Forth Rail Bridge by Ivan Berryman HMS Hood passes beneath the forth Bridge on her way to Rosyth during one of her many visits to the Firth in the 1930s. the cruiser HMS Norfolk lies at anchor in the middle distance.
HMS Hood Opens Fire Upon The Bismarck by Ivan Berryman In the early morning murk of 24th May 1941, the forward 15in guns of HMS Hood fire the first shots against the mighty German battleship Bismarck. Both Bismarck and her escort, the Prinz Eugen, immediately responded, the latter causing a fierce fire on Hoods upper deck, while plunging shot from Bismarck penetrated deep into the British ships hull, causing an explosion that ripped the Hood apart, sinking her in an instant. Tragically, just three survivors were rescued from the water. 
HMS Hood by Ivan Berryman The pride of the Royal Navy , HMS Hood, will always be remembered for her loss during the Bismarck action.