HMS Hood-Bismark Data

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.

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.

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, 24thMay 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, up to 49,140 tons. Speed 31knots, and after modifications 28 knots. Main armament 8 15inch Guns, secondary armament of 12 x 5.5 inch guns

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.

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