What caused the HMS Hood to sink?
This topic interests me because it is very controversial. There are many different stories of what actually happened to the ship.
Credible, because it has active links, copyright, and a shop.
Credible, because it is a military site, has dates, and uses concrete details.
Credible, because it has links, dates, and has a copyright.
My findings!
Website 1 says that the HMS Hood was the world's largest and most powerful warship afloat at that time. It also says that it was sunk by a German battleship, "But when it was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of Greenland on 24 May 1941, its end was shockingly swift"(website 1). For decades, no one has been able to discover why the Hood sank so quickly and two official Boards of Inquiry investigated but failed to explain the tragedy. "Although Hood opened fire first with her massive 15-inch guns, it was Bismarck who struck the telling blows, hitting Hood at least twice and causing an enormous explosion and fire." (Website 1) This is interesting because it seems like when the Hood was shot, it hit a critical part on the boat causing it to explode. "Hood's shattered hull sank in minutes and only three of its crew survived. In the largest loss of life ever suffered in a British warship, 1415 were killed."(Website 1.) One might believe that the blasts hit a certain part of the ship causing it to sink faster than normal time.
Website 2 has the same hypothesis as website 1, in that the Hood was sunken by the german battleship. "Hood's bow rose as her shattered after hull filled with water, and she was soon gone, leaving but three survivors of her crew of over 1400 officers and men."(Website 2) However, this article has a little twist in it. According to website 2, when the Hood was shot, water leaked into the ship causing it to sink rapidly. This hypothesis seems to be very clear, and obviously believable. "Yet dispight all of the Bismarks disadvantages they still sunk the HMS Hood in the open sea. How did this happen though. How could the Hood be sunk by the Bismark which is by far the lesser of two ships"(Website 2) The HMS Hood even had the upper hand in this fight, yet still managed to loose. Making this a very interesting topic, that is still up for controversy "Meanwhile because of the Bismarks light armor and harder working engine it able to monuever around the Hood and sink her."(Website 2) This may also be a reason of why the HMS Hood was sunk so quickly. The Bismark was able to quickly get away from danger and attack the Hood in succession.
Website 3 tells a different story than all the other sites. The demise of the Hood was because of a faulty radar system. "Both groups of ships were steaming directly towards one another, although due to damage to the radar system on theBismarck, the German commander Admiral Lutjens was unaware of the approaching enemy."(Website 3) The enemies had no idea they were going to make contact before it was too late. The had both set course for the same direction, and only time could tell what would happen next. "Just after midnight on 24 May, contact with the Bismarck was temporarily lost and only regained again at 3am, causing Holland to alter his course to meet the enemy."(Website 3). The ships were destined to meet, making this a huge fight. "The Prinz Eugen and Bismarck concentrated their fire on HMS Hood, which continued to steam towards them, at the same time attempting to turn sideways on to bring all her guns to bear and to absorb salvos on her thick side armour. In so doing, HMS Hood was hit first by an eight-inch shell from the Prinz Eugen which ignited ammunition stored on her deck, and then by a 15-inch shell from the Bismarck which hit her magazine amidships, causing a massive explosion and breaking the Hood in two." This idea that the Bismarck hit the magazine, causing it to explode makes since. It is very possible that the HMS Hood exploded because of hitting it right on a central spot.
Website 2 has the same hypothesis as website 1, in that the Hood was sunken by the german battleship. "Hood's bow rose as her shattered after hull filled with water, and she was soon gone, leaving but three survivors of her crew of over 1400 officers and men."(Website 2) However, this article has a little twist in it. According to website 2, when the Hood was shot, water leaked into the ship causing it to sink rapidly. This hypothesis seems to be very clear, and obviously believable. "Yet dispight all of the Bismarks disadvantages they still sunk the HMS Hood in the open sea. How did this happen though. How could the Hood be sunk by the Bismark which is by far the lesser of two ships"(Website 2) The HMS Hood even had the upper hand in this fight, yet still managed to loose. Making this a very interesting topic, that is still up for controversy "Meanwhile because of the Bismarks light armor and harder working engine it able to monuever around the Hood and sink her."(Website 2) This may also be a reason of why the HMS Hood was sunk so quickly. The Bismark was able to quickly get away from danger and attack the Hood in succession.
Website 3 tells a different story than all the other sites. The demise of the Hood was because of a faulty radar system. "Both groups of ships were steaming directly towards one another, although due to damage to the radar system on theBismarck, the German commander Admiral Lutjens was unaware of the approaching enemy."(Website 3) The enemies had no idea they were going to make contact before it was too late. The had both set course for the same direction, and only time could tell what would happen next. "Just after midnight on 24 May, contact with the Bismarck was temporarily lost and only regained again at 3am, causing Holland to alter his course to meet the enemy."(Website 3). The ships were destined to meet, making this a huge fight. "The Prinz Eugen and Bismarck concentrated their fire on HMS Hood, which continued to steam towards them, at the same time attempting to turn sideways on to bring all her guns to bear and to absorb salvos on her thick side armour. In so doing, HMS Hood was hit first by an eight-inch shell from the Prinz Eugen which ignited ammunition stored on her deck, and then by a 15-inch shell from the Bismarck which hit her magazine amidships, causing a massive explosion and breaking the Hood in two." This idea that the Bismarck hit the magazine, causing it to explode makes since. It is very possible that the HMS Hood exploded because of hitting it right on a central spot.