THE BATTLECRUISER HOOD WAS LAID DOWN AS PART OF THE EMERGENCY WAR PROGRAMME IN SEPTEMBER 1916. BUILT BY JOHN BROWN'S, SHE WAS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 1918 BUT NOT COMPLETED UNTIL MARCH 1920, BY WHICH TIME THE GREAT WAR WAS OVER. DISPLACING 41,200 TONS, HER MAIN ARMAMENT CONSISTED OF 8-15IN. GUNS AND SHE HAD A TOP SPEED OF 31 KNOTS. SHE WAS THE LARGEST AND FINEST CAPITAL SHIP OF HER ERA AND, BY THE TIME THE SECOND WORLD WAR BROKE OUT, SHE WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE NATIONAL PRIDE IN THE ROYAL NAVY. IT CAME THEREFORE AS A PROFOUND SHOCK WHEN THE NEWS OF HER LOSS WAS BROADCAST ON THE EVENING OF 24^TH MAY 1941, THE DAY SHE WAS SUNK. STEAMING TO INTERCEPT THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK AFTER SHE HAD BEEN SPOTTED ATTEMPTING TO BREAK OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC, HOOD WAS HIT BY A PLUNGING SHELL VERY EARLY IN THE ACTION. TO THE AMAZEMENT OF ALL WHO WATCHED, SHE BLEW UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND SANK WITHIN MINUTES WITH THE LOSS OF 1,338 OFFICERS AND MEN AND ONLY THREE SURVIVORS.