H.M.S. Hood Today
Photos of the Wreck of H.M.S. Hood
Updated 05-Mar-2010

Contained herein, are many photos of the wreck of H.M.S. Hood as it lies today at the bottom of the Denmark Strait. We owe a special debt of gratitude to our friend David L. Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries Ltd, for generously allowing us to post these photos here. Additionally, we would also like to thank renowned author and draughtsman John Roberts for his invaluable assistance in helping us to identify items pictured here. Lastly, much thanks to accomplished graphics artist Thomas Schmid, for the computer renderings shown here.

Important Notice: These photographs have been exclusively loaned for display here on the official H.M.S. Hood Association website, and are not to be downloaded or republished elsewhere without the express permission of David L. Mearns and Blue Water Recoveries Ltd. The wreck renderings may not be downloaded or republished elsewhere without the express permission of Thomas Schmid.

The Bow
The bow is approximately 100 ft/ 30.5 m in length. It is lying on its port side and appears to be just a shell- much of its internal structure has collapsed or is otherwise gone. Because of this, it is greatly deformed/crushed below and aft of its remaining structure, the hawsepipes and prow. Its anchor cables stream out in different directions (neither anchor was found). Please note that we have slightly modified these photos: all were reduced in size and lightened/brightened somewhat to reduce the "murkiness" inherent in underwater photographs. Also, please be aware that this page is image intensive, and may take some time to fully load.

Above- Views of Hood's bow, "then" and "now": On the left, a 1940 photo of the bow in profile. To the right, computer renderings showing the bow in plan format. The top image shows how the bow used to look from above, and the bottom shows roughly what it looks like today. This is by no means an 100% accurate depiction, but is sufficiently close enough to enable the reader to identify features/items shown in the following wreck photographs.

The tip of the bow, or, "prow". The "bull ring" (a hoop-like fitting that one sat at the very edge) is now gone as are the stanchions and wooden flagstaff. Note the various deck fittings and even the presence of some teak decking. Also note the degaussing cable that encircles the section. This cable was a means of demagnetising the hull so as to not attract magnetic mines. The degaussing cable can also be seen in the 1940 bow photo at the top of the page.

Moving aft, one can now see the rear half of the large starboard bow fairlead. It is entirely intact (as is its port counterpart). Note the large main anchor cable/anchor chain draped over the bow. No anchors were found. Also note the smaller chain forward of the main anchor cable. This is the same size chain as that shown in the 1940 bow photoat the top of this page. It was against this chain that the Roll of Honour plaque was ultimately laid.

Moving farther aft, the planking is more readily visible. One can also see the forward edge of the starboard degaussing cable fairing. This was essentially a metal plate fixed to the hulls top edge, that made it possible for the degaussing cable to rise over and around the anchor. A similar, but smaller fairing also existed to port (as can be seen in the 1940 bow photo at the top of this page). From here onwards, the port side appears to be either buried in the mud, or flattened.

More of the degaussing cable fairing. It appears to be notably damaged, with the twin cables being exposed. One can also see the forward starboard hawsepipe. This was an opening in the ship's side which extended up through the forecastle deck. It was where the starboard forward anchor was stored.

Moving aft from the forward hawsepipe towards the rear hawsepipe. At this point, the gutted interior of the bow comes into site. The forward most bollard can be seen attached to a piece of decking that has collapsed downward into the bow. More of the damaged degaussing cable and fairing can be seen as well.

This is the aft starboard hawsepipe. Hood once had two anchors to starboard, but sometime late in her career the aftermost one was removed. The through deck opening of the hawsepipe was left covered with a grating. The grating is still there. From here aft, the bow takes on a rather cavernous appearance- its decks have either been ripped out or have collapsed downward and out of sight.

Another view of the bow. Though heavily damaged and distorted elsewhere, one can also just make out the start of an enormous depression/distortion in the lower half of the hull (the approximate location shown below in pale green).

Here is another view of the forward portion of the degaussing cable fairing. The starboard forward hawsepipe openings is also clearly in view. If you look closely at the fairing, you can see that there is a rectangular opening within the fairing. This is for a small fairlead. From here aft, the fairing is heavily damaged. The depressed/deformed area of the lower bow is especially noticeable in this view. This crushed appearance may have been caused by implosion, by the decks having been ripped out, or by a combination of both.

Above- A rough mosaic of Hood's bow from the stem a short way aft to the hawsepipes.