For twenty years, the HMS Hood was the world's largest warship. The HMS Hood was the lead ship of her class of four planned battlecruisers until tragedy struck, leading to her demise, shaking the Royal Navy to its core and ending an era.

The Mighty Hood

The ship wasn't commissioned until 1920, by which time the other planned boats in her class were canceled. Yet, the HMS Hood's prestige was so significant that it quickly earned the nickname "The Mighty Hood." In her time, she was the largest warship before commissioning the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The HMS Hood was well equipped with eight 15-inch guns and could reach speeds of upwards of 32 knots. She measured 860 feet in length, displaced 41,200 tons of water, and had more than 1,400 sailors serving on board. During the inter-war years, HMS Hood was the iconic figure for the Royal Navy and the Empire itself in those days.

Hood Vs. Bismark

On May 24, 2941, while pursuing German ships, the HMS Hood engaged the German Kriegsmarine heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen and the battleship Bismark. Even while separated by ten miles of sea, the ships engaged in an intense and fierce duel.

The Bismark held an advantage as, at the time, it was arguably the most powerful warship in commission. In a misguided attempt to close the range, the Prince of Whales and the Hood gave away their tactical advantage at their initial contact, and both German warships opened fire.

The Demise Of The Mighty Hood

Taking several direct hits, The Mighty Hood endured attacks from both the Prinz Eugen and the Bismarck. As shells landed near her, ammunition magazines quickly exploded, the HMS Hood and 1,412 of her sailors were soon lost to the sea.

The Royal Navy took the loss of the Hood and her men extremely hard and embarked on an aggressive pursuit of Bismarck. The Bismarck had been badly damaged in the battle and attempted to reach the coast of occupied France for safety. Three days later, it was hunted down and hit multiple times by torpedo aircraft, incapacitating the already damaged ship. Sunk by a ring of British warships, the Bismarck went down with a total of 2,200 German sailors.

Bring The HMS Hood Back To Life

Fortunately, COBI Building Blocks brings the legendary HMS Hood back to life with its Limited Edition HMS Hood set. The Mighty Hood lives on in the model form, the exquisite detail paying great homage to her important place in history.