H.M.S. Hood Today
Photos of the Wreck of H.M.S. Hood
Updated 29-Apr-2009

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.

Assorted Debris & Wreckage, Part 3
When Hood exploded, collapsed and sank, the ship was violently ripped apart. Much of what was deposited on the ocean floor was severely distorted, making recognition difficult. When preparing these pages, we were only able to consult the photos presented here. We were not able to view the raw video footage, or see most items from different perspectives. These limitations, combined with the lack of any scale indicator, made precise determinations difficult at best. Nevertheless, we've done our best to identify the various pictured pieces here.
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. Lastly, please be aware that this page is image intensive, and may take some time to fully load.

Two views of the Hood wreck site: On the left, an Ocean Explorer 6000 side-scan sonar image created in July 2001; On the right, an enhanced and annotated version of that same sonar image.
Click on image to view larger version.

 
Above/Left- Underside of a 4" twin gun mounting. The front of the mounting would be just to the right of the centre/top in this photo (near the small pinion gear). This is the gearing and circuitry which permitted the gun to be rotated, etc. Above/Right- One of the 4" mounts as seen shortly before the loss of the ship.

Assorted debris. The large rectangular structure is overhead ventilation trunking. Note the spherical louvres (for directing air flow). Hood's 1940 medical logs make note of a new type of louvre being added to ventilation trunks throughout the ship...perhaps this is what was being referred to.

Another view of this debris area. Note yet another boot in the wreckage.

A third view of this same area.

This is one of Hood's four flag lockers. These were located on rear of the lowest level of the forward superstructure.

The rear of a torpedo. This was the only trace of the torpedo systems installed in Hood. There may or may not be other elements located in the debris that were not seen.

 
Another view of the torpedo. Note the heavy layer of sediment coating its body.

A lamp amidst the debris.

Smashed machinery. Possibly a turbo generator.

Chunk of debris containing what appear to be machinery supports.

The rusty objects in the centre may be tins that have rusted together. Perhaps they were in a wooden container that has since rotted away.

More debris. Possibly ventilation trunking, or part of an ammunition hoist.

One of the three HACS Mk III* directors. It is upside down and no longer attached to its base. It is not clear if it is from abreast the bridge or from the After Superstructure. It is in the western debris field. You can see a "close-up" of such a HACS director on the right side of the image.