Transcription of the Log of H.M.S. Hood
Wednesday 1st May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:10 - "Vanessa" entered harbour
16:30 - 1st Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Port Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. 1st Port Watch chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire quarters exercised
21:00 - Rounds
Thursday 2nd May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:40 - "Wessex" left harbour
09:25 - Draft of 32 stokers Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth
13:14 - 1 petty officer discharged to Royal Naval Hospital
15:35 - "Havoc" entered harbour
16:30 - 2nd Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 2nd Port Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. 2nd Port Watch Boys, chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:15 - Exercised fire quarters
21:00 - Rounds
Friday 3rd May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:30 - Mr R.T.Davies, School Master, joined ship
16:30 - 1st Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Port Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. 1st Port Watch chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning. Barracks working party granted leave until 1050 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Exercised fire stations
21:00 - Rounds
Saturday 4th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
11:45 - Exercised fire stations
12:30 - Boys of the 2nd Port Watch granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party, 2nd Port Watch and 2nd Port Watch chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Evening quarters
21:00 - Rounds
Sunday 5th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:15 - Divisions
13:15 - "Centurion" undocked, berthed in basin
16:30 - 1st Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Port Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. 1st Port Watch chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Evening quarters
21:00 - Rounds
Monday 6th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:50 - Q.R. 1. training class landed
11:15 - Clear lower deck for fortnightly payment
16:30 - Port and 1st Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and Port and 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire Stations. ??? muster for payment
21:00 - Rounds
Tuesday 7th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:45 - Higher gunnery ratings training class fall in
08:40 - Long leave libertymen fall in
10:00 - Captain's requestmen and defaulters
16:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Exercised fire parties
21:00 - Rounds
Wednesday 8th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:35 - 1 leading steward and 2 stokers discharged to Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth
13:20 - 1 ordinary telegraphist joined ship
16:30 - 1st Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire quarters
18:10 - "Mouline" entered harbour
21:00 - Rounds
Thursday 9th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:45 - Higher gunnery rates and anti-aircraft training classes landed
15:50 - "Wakeful" entered harbour
16:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Exercised fire quarters
21:00 - Rounds
Friday 10th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:30 - Higher gunnery rates and H.A. classes fall in on jetty
07:45 - Ship commenced to trim
08:40 - Ship trimmed and secured alongside
12:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 2nd Port Barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning. 1st Port barracks working party granted short weekend leave.
14:15 - "Kingston" entered harbour
16:30 - 1st Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire parties
17:45 - "Khartoum" entered harbour
20:00 - "Vivacious" entered harbour
21:00 - Rounds
Saturday 11th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: Shown in log as Saurday 10th May
06:00 - "Windsor" and "Vimy" entered harbour
07:40 - "Montrose" docked
09:00 - "Wessex" entered harbour
09:10 - "Windsor" left harbour
09:25 - "Vimy" left harbour
12:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 2nd Port Barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning. 1st Port barracks working party granted short weekend leave.
15:00 - "Vesper" left harbour
17:00 - Exercised fire quarters
21:00 - Rounds
Sunday 12th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: Shown in log as Sunday 11th May
09:15 - Divisions. Methodists, Presbyterians and United Board landed
09:40 - Pipe down
11:00 - 1st Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Starboard Watch and 1st port barracks working party granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
11:45 - Fire party to muster
15:40 - Air raid warning €˜yellow'
16:18 - Air raid warning €˜white'
21:00 - Rounds
Monday 13th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
04:30 - Emergency party required to slip "Kingston"
11:50 - Commodore Royal Naval Barracks visited ship
12:35 - Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks left ship
16:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Exercised fire quarters
Tuesday 14th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:30 - Warrant 228 read
16:30 - 1st Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Starboard Watch and 1st port barracks working party granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire quarters
17:35 - 5 ratings joined ship from Royal Naval Barracks
21:00 - Rounds
Wednesday 15th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
05:25 - "Aberdeen" entered harbour
07:00 - "Kingston" entered harbour
08:30 - "Mohawk" and "Kimberly" entered harbour
09:45 - "Flamingo" entered harbour
10:15 - "Auckland" entered harbour
12:15 - "Wakeful" entered harbour
13:20 - "Flamingo" left harbour
16:25 - "Scarborough" left harbour
16:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Port Watch and 1st starboard barracks working party and 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
16:35 - 1 case discharged to hospital
17:15 - Fire quarters
17:30 - "Imperial" and "Kandahar" entered harbour
21:00 - Rounds
Thursday 16th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
06:00 - Hostile, "Hasty" and "Nubian" entered harbour
06:10 - "Kingston" left harbour
10:05 - "Janus" and "Juno" entered harbour
11:40 - C-in-C Western Approaches passed ship on way to "Nubian"
13:30 - "Vanquisher" entered harbour
16:00 - "Khartoum" entered harbour
16:30 - Boys of 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Starboard Watch and 1st port barracks working party granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire quarters
17:10 - 10 Royal Marines joined ship
19:25 - "Saladin" entered harbour
20:00 - "Nubian", "Kandahar", "Kingston", "Hostile" and "Hasty" left harbour
21:00 - Rounds. Two boys joined ship from Royal Naval Barracks
Friday 17th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
06:30 - "Hero" entered harbour
10:55 - C-in-C Western Approaches visited "Hereward" and "Havoc"
13:44 - "Grimsby" entered harbour
16:20 - Sub Lieutenant D Weatherall, RN joined ship
16:30 - Boys of 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 2000 hours. Port Watch and 2nd starboard barracks working party granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire quarters
20:00 - "Havoc", "Hyperion" and "Imperial" left harbour
20:35 - "Carlisle" left harbour
21:00 - Rounds
Saturday 18th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
00:20 - "Kimberley" left harbour
10:30 - Captain's messdeck rounds. Ship's motor boat, SEO motor boat hoisted inboard
12:20 - Sub-Lieutenant L.P. Angell, RN joined ship
12:30 - Boys of 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 2000 hours. 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
13:15 - Duty Port and Starboard Watch fire party exercise air defence
17:00 - Fire quarters
21:00 - Rounds
21:30 - Close range weapons close up
21:45 - Secure
Sunday 19th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:15 - Divisions
10:40 - Pipe down. "Griffin" entered harbour.
11:30 - 2nd Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 2nd Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
21:00 - Rounds
Monday 20th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
15:45 - Started basin trials
16:20 - Basin trials completed
16:30 - Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. 2nd Port and Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Evening quarters
20:50 - Peter pom pom's crew and ammunition supply parties close up
21:00 - Rounds
21:30 - Auntie pom pom's crew close up. Fire and repair parties close up.
21:40 - 0.5" machine guns' crews close up
Tuesday 21st May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:00 - Work main derrick. Sub-Lieutenant CW Wilson, RNVR joined ship
09:25 - Draft left for Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth
10:30 - 1st and 2nd picket boats arrived
16:30 - Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Port and 1st Starboard Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
18:00 - 16 ATs visited ship
18:15 - Exercised fire quarters
19:40 - 16 ATs left ship
21:00 - Rounds
Wednesday 22nd May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:00 - 1 leading seaman, 5 able seamen, 23 ordinary seaman, 3 non commissioned officers and 10 royal marines discharged to Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth
11:23 - "Wakeful" entered harbour
11:30 - Cleared lower deck for address by Captain
16:30 - Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Starboard and 1st Port Watch granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Exercised fire quarters and anti-aircraft guns crews. 2 engine room artificers left on draft
21:00 - Rounds
21:26 - Exercised anti-aircraft guns crews
Thursday 23rd May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:10 - Aloft directors crews close up for drill
09:45 - Captain's requestmen and defaulters
11:00 - All royal marines fall in on quarterdeck for inspection of side arms
12:30 - Lieutenant ED Sliond, RM left for Royal Naval Barracks, Plymouth
13:15 - Cleared lower deck for payment
16:30 - ort Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Port and 2nd Starboard Watches granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:05 - Fire quarters and air defence exercised
21:00 - Rounds
21:30 - Pom pom and 0.5" guns crews close up
Friday 24th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
06:15 - 1st part Starboard Watch to breakfast
07:45 - Ammunition parties closed up
15:25 - 4" ammunition party to tea
16:30 - Lost over side 2 ¼ charges 15" RNC 125 in 1 case. Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Starboard and 2nd Port Watches granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire party exercised
18:00 - "Scimitar" entered harbour
19:05 - Diver recovered 1 case RNC 125
21:15 - Rounds
21:30 - Pom Pom and 0.5" guns crews closed up
Saturday 25th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
06:15 - 1st part Port Watch to breakfast
07:45 - Hands detailed for ammunitioning fall in
09:15 - "Dorsetshire" entered harbour
10:05 - C-in-C Western Approaches visited ship
10:30 - Cleared lower deck for address by C-in-C Western Approaches
10:46 - C-in-C Western Approaches left ship
12:30 - Boys of Port Watch granted leave until 2000 hours. Port and 1st Starboard Watches granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
13:15 - Hands detailed carry on armament
16:40 - "Venemous" entered harbour
17:00 - Exercised fire quarters
21:00 - Rounds
23:15 - Completed ammunitioning
Sunday 26th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Devonport
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
07:30 - Tilt test party close up
08:05 - Hands fall in in port battery for church
09:05 - Clear lower deck, hands muster in port battery
09:45 - Exercised alarm to arms
11:30 - Underwater damage exercised abreast forward engine room
12:30 - Starboard and 1st Port Watches granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning
13:15 - Port Watch work main derrick, replace ammunition derricks
16:30 - Director test party fall in. 1st port stokers granted leave until 0700 hours the following morning.
21:00 - Rounds
Monday 27th May 1940
From: Devonport
To: Liverpool
At: Sea
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:00 - Both watches of the hands prepare for sea
09:15 - Embarked King's Harbour Master Plymouth. Cable party of both watches
09:20 - Tug secured forward
09:30 - Slipped all wires
09:43 - Tugs cast off aft
10:00 - Pointed down river and proceeded
10:05 - Passed Torpoint Ferry???
10:46 - Slipped bow tug
10:51 - Stopped to drop King's Harbour Master
11:05 - Passed breakwater. Set course 183°, speed 14 knots
11:14 - Streamed paravanes
12:00 - Position: 50°10'N 004°10'W (estimated)
12:15 - Altered course to 247°
12:20 - Started Zig zag No. 15
12:21 - peed 16 knots
14:50 - Stopped zig zagging
14:59 - Lizard Lighthouse abeam
15:05 - Altered course to 297°, speed 17 knots
15:10 - Started Zig zag No. 15
16:10 - Sighted ???lighthouse bearing 276°
17:13 - Stopped zig zagging
17:15 - Altered course to 307°
17:20 - Started Zig zag No. 15
17:22 - Longships Lighthouse bore 091°
17:28 - Round Isle bore 248°
18:12 - Scilly Rock bore 210°
19:50 - Stopped zig zagging
20:00 - Altered course to 017°Position: 50°28'N 006°47'W (estimated)
20:10 - Started Zig zag No. 15
21:15 - Escorting aircraft rejoined
23:44 - Stopped zig zagging. Reduced speed to 14 knots.
Tuesday 28th May 1940
From: Devonport
To: Liverpool
At: Sea
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
00:55 - Sighted Smalls Light bearing 070°
03:20 - Encountered fog
03:40 - Fog cleared
04:05 - Speed increased to 17 knots. Started Zig zag No. 15.
06:15 - Encountered fog
06:20 - Decreased speed to 14 knots
06:40 - Altered course to 017°, speed 15 knots. Started fog signal
08:00 - Position: 53°08'N 005°19'W (estimated)
08:38 - Fog cleared. Destroyers took station astern.
09:34 - Altered course to 060°
10:32 - Sighted land bearing 127°
10:37 - Destroyer escort assumed Screening Diagram No. 3
10:50 - Speed 18 knots
11:02 - Exercise underwater damage
11:12 - Altered course to 095°
11:30 - Exercise abandon ship stations
12:00 - Position: 53°36'N 004°15'W (estimated)
12:45 - Altered course to port to avoid contact. "Wolverine" and "Witch" carried out depth charge attack.
12:54 - Course 095°
13:03 - Altered course to 110°
13:10 - Entered swept channel
13:12 - Altered course to 130°
13:18 - Altered course to 120°
13:25 - Reduced speed to 9 knots
13:28 - In paravanes. Lost by accident 1 paravane, part no. 641
13:37 - Increased speed to 18 knots
13:48 - Altered course to 105°
13:59 - Altered course to 095°
14:07 - Reduced speed to 15 knots
14:24 - Bar light vessel abeam to starboard, 0.5'. Course and speed as requisite for entering Mersey
15:06 - Passed Crosby light vessel
15:19 - Secured 2 tugs
15:37 - Slipped off Gladstone dock and turned as requisite for entering
16:20 - Entered and passed through lock
17:05 - Entered Gladstone graving dock
17:35 - Secured in dock
19:45 - Starboard Watch granted leave until 0715 hours the following morning. Chiefs and petty officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
21:00 - Rounds
Wednesday 29th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Liverpool
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:05 - Divisions
09:30 - Hands fall in. Clean ship.
11:40 - Fire party exercised
13:15 - Both watches, after H.A.D.T. and port High Angle Control Position to drill
16:30 - Port Watch granted leave until 0715 hours the following morning. Chiefs and Petty Officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:25 - Exercised "B" company. Fall in in port battery.
21:00 - Rounds
21:35 - H.A. armament closed up
Thursday 30th May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Liverpool
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
09:20 - H.A. guns crews to drill in succession
09:45 - Captain's requestmen and defaulters
11:40 - Fire party exercised
12:15 - H.A. armament secured
13:15 - Both watches of the hands clean ship
16:30 - Starboard Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Starboard Watch granted leave until 0715 hours the following morning. Chiefs and Petty Officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
17:00 - Fire stations exercised
21:00 - Rounds
21:40 - H.A. armament close up
Friday 31st May 1940
From: -
To: -
At: Liverpool
Sick: Not recorded
Distance through water: -
Comments: -
08:05 - Both watches fall in, clean and paint ship
09:45 - Captain's defaulters
10:40 - Exercised H.A. armament
13:10 - Cricket team left ship
15:50 - Fire quarters exercised
16:30 - Port Watch Boys granted leave until 2000 hours. Port Watch granted leave until 0715 hours the following morning. Chiefs and Petty Officers granted leave until 0730 hours the following morning.
21:00 - Rounds
21:30 - H.A. armament close up and clear away