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HMS Hood

HMS Hood was a British battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, launched in 1918 and commissioned in 1920.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

HMS Hood was a British battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, launched in 1918 and commissioned in 1920. It was the only ship completed of the Admiral class and became one of the most famous warships of the interwar period before being sunk by the German battleship Bismarck in 1941.

Design and construction

HMS Hood was one of four Admiral-class battlecruisers ordered in 1916, but it was the only one completed. It was built on the Clyde and named after Admiral Samuel Hood.

Service history

After commissioning in 1920, Hood served as a prominent Royal Navy capital ship during the interwar years. It became a symbol of British naval power and a well-known flagship.

Loss in the Denmark Strait

On 24 May 1941, Hood engaged the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Denmark Strait. A catastrophic explosion destroyed the ship, leading to one of the Royal Navy’s worst losses of life.

Legacy

Hood remained a powerful naval symbol long after its sinking, remembered for both its size and its dramatic loss. The ship’s wreck was later located on the seabed, reinforcing its place in naval history.

Key facts

  • HMS Hood was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy.
  • It was launched on 22 August 1918 and commissioned on 15 May 1920.
  • Hood was widely known as “The Mighty Hood” and was regarded as one of the most powerful warships of its era.
  • It was destroyed during the Battle of the Denmark Strait on 24 May 1941 after a hit by the German battleship Bismarck.
  • The sinking caused the loss of almost the entire crew, with only three survivors out of 1,418 aboard.

Frequently asked questions

What was HMS Hood?
HMS Hood was a Royal Navy battlecruiser and the only completed Admiral-class ship.
When was HMS Hood launched and commissioned?
It was launched on 22 August 1918 and commissioned on 15 May 1920.
How did HMS Hood sink?
HMS Hood was destroyed during the Battle of the Denmark Strait after a catastrophic explosion while engaging Bismarck and Prinz Eugen.
How many people survived the sinking?
Only three crew members survived out of about 1,418 aboard.
Why was HMS Hood famous?
It was one of the largest and most powerful British warships of its time and was known as “The Mighty Hood.”
Where was HMS Hood built?
It was built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hood
    Supports: launch date, commissioning date, class, builder, namesake, fate, pennant number, crew/displacement details
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/HMS-Hood
    Supports: ship type, launch year, sinking date, Battle of the Denmark Strait, survival count
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45270946
    Supports: launch location/date, nickname, size significance, sinking by Bismarck, survivor count
  4. Clyde Naval Heritage — https://clydenaval.org/hms-hood/
    Supports: battlecruiser description, sinking narrative, wreck discovery in 2001
  5. U.S. Naval Institute — https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2017/december/royal-navys-ill-fated-symbol
    Supports: commissioning date, historical significance, loss in battle
  6. Royal Naval Association — https://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/loss-of-hms-hood-and-bismarck
    Supports: largest warship at launch, dimensions, sinking duration, survivor count
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Scotland/Selected_article/Week_38,_2011
    Supports: last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy, Admiral-class context, namesake