There appears to be very conflicting opinions on what really happened to Hood. A documentary I watched about her sinking found at the end that the Bismarck had managed an extremely lucky shot, and Holland had given the ship it's best chance, but if what the above is saying is true, then there truly was something wrong with Hood and the shot that sank her could have been achieved by other warships.
You should read Bill Jurens' analysis. There are quite a few plausible theories as to how she went down, but most documentaries only include the fact that her deck armor was weak and Bismarck "managed an extremely lucky shot." From what I understand, the precise details of her loss are still a topic of intense debate.
Formerly "Admiral Jacky Fisher."
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious"--George Washington
Well I suppose the only way to know would be to be there and to somehow slow time down to watch precisely what happened. But until that can be done, everything is mostly speculation. The documentary I watched had looked at Hood's rudder and found that it was in the process of making the critical turn that would have given the ship its best chance.
Well I suppose the only way to know would be to be there and to somehow slow time down to watch precisely what happened. But until that can be done, everything is mostly speculation. The documentary I watched had looked at Hood's rudder and found that it was in the process of making the critical turn that would have given the ship its best chance.
Yes, she did blow up during that turn. However, I would have to disagree with you when you state that "everything is mostly speculation"; if you read Jurens' forensic analysis, you will find that many of the theories are both statistically unlikely and contradictory to eyewitness reports.
Formerly "Admiral Jacky Fisher."
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious"--George Washington
Well I suppose the only way to know would be to be there and to somehow slow time down to watch precisely what happened. But until that can be done, everything is mostly speculation. The documentary I watched had looked at Hood's rudder and found that it was in the process of making the critical turn that would have given the ship its best chance.
Also, at the rate technology has advanced in the last few decades, I think we will eventually be able to analyze the wreck in much greater detail.
Formerly "Admiral Jacky Fisher."
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious"--George Washington
Wait a minute, did he just say the Hood still used the old style turret structure with the powder rooms above the shell room? I know it was scheduled for a new refit, but I thought that was for upgraded radar and fire-control. No wonder it blew up! I thought the British refitted all their capital ships with the new arrangement. Shell room on top, powder room on bottom. I guess Jutland didn't press home the point good enough...
There's a theory I heard the other day that the 4 inch ready-use locker ammunition burned into the magazine, but I don't think it is that accurate. Unless of course, the after turrets had this weakness, which could increase the probability.
I've read the book that Helmuth Brinkmann, captain of the Prinz Eugen, wrote and he claims he was watching the Hood when she blew. Apparently the crew of the Hood stored UP(unrotated projectile) ammunition on the boat deck. Helmuth claims a salvo from the Eugen started a fire on the boat deck which caused the UP and other ammo to explode causing a chain reaction. I used to accept his claim that the Eugen delivered the final blow but I'm not so sure anymore.
There is not much chance of us finding out what actually happen due to the state of the Hoods wreck.The bow and stern are about 250m apart with 70m of the centre section totally obliterated, the conning tower was found about 1000m from the rest of the wreckage. That's about 5000+ tonnes blown 1km! David Mearns, who lead the expedition that found her at a depth of 9200ft, concluded that she was most likely blown apart by an explosion in the 15" and 4" magazines.
All I know is that I would like to see a remake of the old movie.
Most warships including Hood carried ready service lockers for their AA guns topside in wartime. Modern scholarship indicates that Prinz Eugene got the first hit on Hood and hit her on the boat deck causing a fire as ready service ammo burned but this was not enough to blow the whole ship apart. It may have been enough to incapacitate many of the topside crew resulting in so few survivors.
Thanks FlackStruk for that incredible sketch. The location of the explosion is evident from the wreck and the central third of her length doesn't exist anymore.
That sketch shows us what we already know but it doesn't show how it happened and what caused it because that section of the ship only exists in a debris field as thousands of very small species.
What I find amazing is if you look at the conning tower in that sketch and then imagine it being thrown 1km away shows the force in which she blew apart.
I'll have to research the BC's that blew up at Jutland to see what condition they're in.
Last Edit: Jun 13, 2017 14:51:39 GMT by Striker: Punctuation
Most warships including Hood carried ready service lockers for their AA guns topside in wartime. Modern scholarship indicates that Prinz Eugene got the first hit on Hood and hit her on the boat deck causing a fire as ready service ammo burned but this was not enough to blow the whole ship apart. It may have been enough to incapacitate many of the topside crew resulting in so few survivors.
That is correct but the Hood stored her UP rounds on the boat deck and Captain Helmuth Brinkmann claims he observed several explosions on the boat deck before she blew up. Was he lying? I think he did see the explosions but did they lead to the big blow? Anything is possible in war like dropping a lucky bomb down the funnel of a BB to sink it with one hit.
The one thing that is undeniable is that before WW2 the British build bad BB's
I don't doubt that he thought he saw multiple explosions but he was what ten or eleven miles away on a foggy day. Those explosions may well have been the fire from PE's hit igniting the UP and 4" ready service lockers but there wasn't enough ammo stored there to blow the whole ship.
Keep in mind the ready use ammo didn't have to blow up the entire ship, all it would have needed to do is to get a fire down to the powder magazine in rear turrets.
Ted Briggs confirmed that Eugen landed a hit which caused this ready use ammo to go off. It may actually make the most sense.
Post by Fear God & Dreadnought! on Jun 13, 2017 19:30:18 GMT
Here is Bill Jurens' analysis of the boat deck fire theory (everything below this line is written by him):
There is a natural possibility that the fire on the boat deck spread, and in so doing led to an explosion in the magazines. Particularly if diesel fuel or gasoline were involved, it is possible that burning fuel could have penetrated to a magazine via a vent duct, part of the plumbing system, or by pouring down an ammunition hoist. Few witnesses seemed to feel petrol was involved in the boat deck fire, however, and the ammunition hoist hatches were almost certainly shut as the action began. Able Seaman Tilbum testified to this, and the court appearance of Captain William Wellcose Davis, R.N., who had been aboard Hood as recently as 20 September, 1940 confirmed it.76 The torpedo doors would have been definitely shut, he said, his recollection of the Ship's Torpedo Standing Orders was that doors were always closed until the Captain indicated a torpedo target. His answer with respect to the 4-in ammunition hoists was equally clear and unambiguous: "The 4-in. ammunition supply doors in the ship were closed until the Captain passed the order 'supply 4-in. ammunition.' This organization resulted from an incident when the ship was bombed at the end of September or beginning of October 1939, as it was then found that 4-in. ammunition was being replenished before any order had been given. I can visually confirm that this procedure was rigidly adhered to as I was on the boat deck during the subsequent bombings of the ship and during the action off Oran. . . . The water-tight door organization was extremely thorough and efficient and was practiced every day at sea. All doors were marked in plain language."
With regards to the gasoline stowage, he testified:
When the ship proceeded to sea, all petrol, except approximately 2 gals, was left in the drifter. This was kept behind to enable the power boats to be started up on return to harbour. There was a special organization for landing a number of 50 gallon drums which were kept on the boat deck adjacent to the sea' lifebuoy abreast the mainmast. The quick release drums originally supplied to the ship were released into the sea and not recovered or replaced, on the first occasion of the ship being attacked by aircraft, about 3 weeks after the outbreak of war. The drums were stowed on trays and the stoker who looked after this stowage was so proud of his care that he told me he could not fill a petrol lighter."77
It would thus appear that the fire on the boat deck, though spectacular, probably played no direct part in the loss of the ship.
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious"--George Washington
I kinda wonder if a german shell punched into the superfire aft turrets powder-room from amidships If the explosion would follow that path of least resistance and ignite anything else it encountered along the way?