Hood in the Troubled 1930s (1930-1939)
Entire Year: Continued major refit at Portsmouth.
01 January–16 June: Continued major refit at Portsmouth and underwent trials.
10 March: Commissioned for trials at Portsmouth as tender to H.M.S. Victory
27 April: Captain JFC Patterson assumed command.
12 May: Completed with a full crew of Portsmouth ratings for service as Flagship, Battle Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.
16–17 June: En route to Portland.
17 June–10 July: At Portland.
26 June: Loses Fairey IIIF plane on takeoff at Weymouth.
10–17 July: At Torbay.
11 July: Flag of Wilfred Tomkinson, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, transferred from H.M.S. Renown. Tomkinson had served in Hood before- as her first captain.
17–21 July: At Swanage.
21 July–08 September: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs whilst available, 27 July-07 September.
01–08 August: Participated at Portsmouth Navy Week
08–11 September: En route to Invergordon.
11-16 September: At Invergordon. Some members of Hood's crew participated in varying degrees in the "Invergordon Mutiny" over a proposed reduction in pay rates Navy-wide. Click here to learn more about the Mutiny.
16–19 September: En route to Portsmouth.
19 September–08 October: At Portsmouth.
08–11 October: En route to Rosyth.
11–19 October: At Rosyth.
19–20 October: En route to Invergordon.
20–27 October: At Invergordon.
27–28 October: En route to Rosyth.
28 October–17 November: At Rosyth.
17–19 November: En route to Portsmouth.
19 November–31 December: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs while available, 27 November 1931-05 January 1932.
01–06 January 1932: Still at Portsmouth.
06 January–07 March 1932: Spring Cruise to West Indies/Caribbean:
06–12 January: En route with Repulse, Norfolk, Dorsetshire and Delhi to Faial, Azores.
12–13 January: At Faial.
13–21 January: En route to Barbados.
21 January–05 February: At Carlisle Bay, Barbados.
05–12 February: At St Vincent.
12–15 February: At Grenada.
15–16 February: En route to Trinidad.
16–25 February: At Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
25 February–04 March: En route to Faial.
04–07 March: At Faial. Departed for Portsmouth on 07 March.
07–13 March: En route to Portsmouth.
13 March–14 May: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs, 31 March-10 May.
14–16 May: En route to Invergordon.
16–28 May: At Invergordon.
28 May–04 June: At Scapa Flow.
04–05 June: En route to Rothesay.
05–13 June: At Rothesay.
13–25 June: At Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.
25–26 June: En route to Guernsey.
26 June–07 July: At Guernsey.
07–14 July: At Weymouth.
14–15 July: Exercises followed by a visit to Portland.
15–21 July: At Sandown Bay.
18 July: Southsea photographic firm of Wright & Logan took numerous photos aboard.
21 July–30 August: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs while available, 25 July-late August.
30 July–06 August: Participated at Portsmouth Navy Week.
15 August: Flag of Sir William James, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted; Captain Thomas H. Binney assumes command.
30 August: Re-commissioned for further service as Flagship, Battle Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet
30–31 August: En route to Southend.
31 August–07 September: At Southend.
07–08 September: En route to Hartlepool.
08–14 September: At Hartlepool.
14–15 September: En route to Rosyth.
15 September–10 October: At Rosyth.
10–20 October: At Invergordon.
20–21 October: En route to Rosyth.
21 October–15 November: At Rosyth.
15–17 November: En route to Portsmouth.
17 November–31 December: At Portsmouth (17 November 1932- 11 January 1933). Taken in hand for repairs, 07 December 1932-09 January 1933.
01-11 January: Still at Portsmouth. Departed for Arousa Bay on 11 January.
11 January–25 March: Spring Cruise to Spain and Mediterranean (Click here to view map):
11–13 January: En route to Arousa Bay.
13–21 January: At Arousa Bay.
21–23 January: En route to Gibraltar.
23–26 January: At Gibraltar.
26–28 January: En route to Algiers, Algeria.
28 January–07 February: At Algiers.
07–09 February: En route to Gibraltar.
09 February–09 March: At Gibraltar. Steamed to Tangier on 09 March.
09–14 March: At Tangier.
14–21 March: At Gibraltar.
21–23 March: En route to Arousa Bay.
23–25 March: At Arousa Bay. Departed Arousa Bay for Portsmouth on 25 March.
25–28 March: En route to Portsmouth.
28 March–09 May: At Portsmouth.
09–12 May: En route to Invergordon.
12 May–03 June: At Invergordon.
03–10 June: At Scapa Flow.
10–11 June: En route to Oban.
11–14 June: At Oban.
14–16 June: En route to Portsmouth.
16 June–06 September: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for refit, 20 June-04 September.
30 August: Paid off and re-commissioned for further service as Flagship, Battle Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet. Captain F J B Tower assumed command.
06–08 September: En route to Rosyth.
08–24 September: At Rosyth.
10–26 September: Flag of Sir William James, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, temporarily transferred to H.M.S. Renown
24–25 September: En route to Invergordon.
25 September–11 October: At Invergordon.
11–13 October: En route to Banff.
13–16 October: At Banff.
16–24 October: At North Berwick.
24 October: At Rosyth briefly, then on exercises.
24–26 October: On exercises.
26 October–07 November: At Rosyth.
07–13 November: En route to Portsmouth.
13 November–31 December: At Portsmouth (13 November 1933-12 January 1934). Taken in hand for repairs while available, 01 December 1933 - 06 January 1934.
01-12 January: Still at Portsmouth. Departed for Arousa Bay on 12 January.
12 January–23 March: Spring Cruise to Spain and the Mediterranean (Click here to view map):
12–16 January: En route to Arousa Bay.
16–20 January: At Arousa Bay.
20–22 January: En route to Madeira.
22–29 January: At Madeira.
29–31 January: En route to Gibraltar.
31 January–06 March: At Gibraltar. Departed on 06 March for Lagos Bay and Spring Exercises of Combined Fleets.
06–07 March: On exercises.
07–09 March: At Lagos Bay. Departed on 09 March for exercises and Gibraltar.
09–16 March: On exercises.
16–23 March: At Gibraltar. Departed for Portsmouth on 23 March.
23–27 March: En route to Portsmouth
27 March–11 May: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for docking and repairs, 12 April - 04 May.
11 May–01 June: At Portland.
01–04 June: At Plymouth.
04–07 June: En route to Scapa Flow.
07–16 June: At Scapa Flow.
16–25 June: At Loch Eriboll. It is possible that this is when the Hood Stones were first laid and painted.
25–26 June: En route to Rosyth.
26 June–15 July: At Rosyth.
15–17 July: En route to Torbay (UK).
17–24 July: At Torbay.
24 July–07 September: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs, 01 August - 05 September.
August: Participated at Portsmouth Navy Week.
14 August: Flag of Sir Sidney R. Bailey, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted.
7–8 September: En route to Hull.
8–13 September: At Hull.
13–15 September: En route to Rosyth.
15–21 September: At Rosyth.
21–22 September: En route to Invergordon.
22 September–04 October: At Invergordon.
04–05 October: En route to Rosyth.
05–15 October: At Rosyth.
15–16 October: En route to Invergordon.
16–25 October: At Invergordon.
25–26 October: En route to Rosyth.
26–30 October: At Rosyth.
30 October–03 November: En route to Portland.
03–14 November: At Portland.
14 November–31 December 1935: At Portsmouth (14 November 1934 - 15 January 1935). Taken in hand for docking while available, 19 November 1934 - 14 January 1935.
01–15 January: Still at Portsmouth. Departed for Arousa Bay on 15 January.
15–30 January: Spring Cruise to Spain and Mediterranean (Click here to view map):
15–18 January: En route to Arousa Bay.
18–23 January: At Arousa Bay.
23–25 January: On exercises and en route to Gibraltar. Collided with Renown off Arousa Bay in position 42° 06'N, 09° 23'W on 23 January. Damage to Hood's starboard stern.
25–30 January: At Gibraltar. Departed Gibraltar for Portsmouth on 30 January.
30 January–22 February: Flag of Sidney R. Bailey, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, temporarily transferred to H.M.S. Renown.
30 January–04 February: En route to Portsmouth.
04 February–05 March: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for docking and collision repairs, 08 February - 04 March.
05 March: Observed air crash off St Catherine's Point; recovered body of officer and returned to Spithead. Departed for exercises and Gibraltar that same day.
05–16 March: On exercises and en route to Gibraltar.
16–21 March: At Gibraltar
21–25 March: En route to Portsmouth.
25 March–13 May: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repair of defects, 01 April - 13 May.
13–14 May: En route to Portland.
14–15 May: At Portland.
15–22 May: At Southend.
22–24 May: En route to Scapa Flow.
24 May–07 June: At Scapa Flow.
07–10 June: En route to Portland.
10 June–11 July: At Portland.
11–12 July: At Sandown Bay.
12–17 July: Off Spithead. Participated in the Silver Jubilee Review of King George V on 16 July.
17 July–30 August: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs while available, 12-28 August.
03–10 August: Participated at Portsmouth Navy Week.
30 August–14 September: At Portland.
31 August: On exercises.
14–17 September: En route to Gibraltar.
17 September–05 December: At Gibraltar due to Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Hood visited by the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia during this timeframe.
05–07 December: En route to Madeira.
07–12 December: At Madeira.
12–14 December: En route to Gibraltar.
14 December–31 December: At Gibraltar (14 December 1935 - 13 January 1936).
01–13 January: Still at Gibraltar.
13–16 January: En route to Portsmouth.
16 January–21 February: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for docking, 21 January - 20 February.
01 February: Captain Arthur Francis Pridham assumed command.
21–22 February: At Portland. Departed for Arousa Bay on 22 February.
22 February–20 June: Cruise to Spain and Mediterranean (Click here to view map):
22–24 February: En route to Arousa Bay
24 February–02 March: At Arousa Bay.
02–05 March: At Vigo.
05–07 March: En route to Gibraltar.
07 March–04 May: At Gibraltar.
04–07 May: En route to Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
07–15 May: At Las Palmas.
15–18 May: En route to Gibraltar.
18 May–20 June: At Gibraltar. Hood again visited by Emperor Haile Selassie on 30 May.
19 June: Taken in hand for repairs to damaged turbine at Gibraltar owing to international situation and congestion at Portsmouth Dockyard. Departed for Portsmouth on 20 June.
20–23 June: En route to Portsmouth
23 June–10 October: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for repairs, 26 June - 17 September.
22 July: Flag of Sir Geoffrey Blake, Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted. Hood joins the Mediterranean Fleet.
August: Participates at Portsmouth Navy Week.
08 September: Re-commissioned for service in the Mediterranean Fleet.
12 September–30 November: Flag of Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Blake temporarily transferred to H.M.S. Barham
03–09 October: Taken in hand for cleaning of condensers.
10–14 October: En route to Gibraltar (to be based there).
14–20 October: At Gibraltar.
20–24 October: En route to Malta.
24 October–02 December: Working up at Malta.
05–11 December: At Gibraltar.
11–14 December: At Tangier.
14 December: Briefly at Gibraltar.
14–23 December: At Tangier.
23–31 December: At Gibraltar (23 December 1936 - 04 January 1937).
01-04 January: Still at Gibraltar.
04–09 January: At Tangier.
09–12 January: At Gibraltar.
12–16 January: En route to Malta.
16–21 January: At Malta.
21–23 January: En route to Plateía Island, Greece.
23 January–01 February: At Plateía Island.
01–03 February: On exercises while en route to Malta.
03–27 February: At Malta. Taken in hand for docking, 03-13 February.
27 February–06 March: On exercises and en-route to Gibraltar.
06–09 March: At Gibraltar.
09–12 March: On exercises.
12–20 March: At Gibraltar.
20–23 March: En route to Malta.
23 March–3 April: At Malta. Taken in hand for changing of propellers, 23 March - 02 April.
03–06 April: En route to Gibraltar.
06–10 April: At Gibraltar
06 April: "Thorpehall Incident." Steamer Thorpehall was bound for Bilbao, Spain (with a cargo of food) when it was stopped by Nationalist (pro-Franco) ships. After the Nationalist armed trawler Galerna fired warning shots, Thorpehall radioed for help. Destroyer H.M.S. Brazen responded. The Nationalist cruiser Almirante Cervera then arrived in response to the Brazen's appearance. Almirante Cervera and Galerna then physically blocked the Thorpehall from proceeding any farther. Germanys Admiral Graf Spee arrived, but soon left. Soon, additional British destroyers arrived. They managed to manoeuvre between Thorpehall and the Nationalist ships. They then screened the Thorpehall until it reached Bilbao. Although Hood was not directly involved, this incident did set the stage for a future confrontation in the coming weeks.
10–12 April: On patrol in Bay of Biscay; radio silence maintained.
12–13 April: At St-Jean-de-Luz.
13–15 April: On patrol in Bay of Biscay.
15–19 April: At La Pallice.
19–20 April: En route to St-Jean-de-Luz.
20–22 April: At St-Jean-de-Luz.
22–24 April: On patrol in Bay of Biscay, then en route to La Pallice.
23 April: The steamers MacGregor, Hamsterly and Stanbrook were carrying food and supplies from France to Bilbao. Hood was on patrol near the point in which they would enter the Spanish war zone. The three steamers were confronted (as usual) by the Franco ships Almirante Cervera and Galerna. The convoy radioed for help. After repeated attempts at communicating via signals lights, Galerna fired across one merchant vessel's bows. Galerna was then fired upon by Bilbao shore batteries and was forced to depart the area. Almirante Cervera then took up the role as antagonist and directly challenged the British destroyers in the area. Eventually Hood had to become involved. Hood trained her main guns at Almirante Cervera and forced the Nationalist vessel to immediately stand down. This incident ended with yet another incident...Loyalist ships arriving late on the scene, accidentally shelled one of the British destroyers (no damage or casualties though). The three cargo vessels ultimately made it safely to Bilbao. onfrontation with Nationalist warships Almirante Cervera and Galerna over passage of S.S.'s Hamsterley, MacGregor and Stanbrook into Bilbao
24–26 April: At La Pallice.
26–27 April: En route to Portsmouth.
27 April–01 June: At Portsmouth.
07 May: At Spithead for the Coronation Review of His Majesty King George VI.
20 May: Hood visited by King George VI.
01–05 June: En route to Gibraltar.
05–07 June: At Gibraltar.
07–12 June: At Tangier.
12–15 June: At Gibraltar.
15–19 June: En route to Malta.
19 June–24 August: At Malta. Participated in the Autumn Cruise of Mediterranean Fleet.
25 June: Flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake struck following his being admitted to Bighi Hospital; Captain A. Francis Pridham (Hood) assumes command of Battle Cruiser Squadron.
30 June: 15" gunnery practice with target towing vessel H.M.S. Protector...Protector's cat died of heart failure when Hood mistakenly straddled Protector.
15 July: Flag of Andrew B. Cunningham, Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted.
26 July–20 August: Taken in hand for repairs.
27 July: Cdr James Gould (HMS/m. Thames) marries Miss Anne Pridham, Capt. Pridham's eldest daughter, in the only wedding ever held aboard Hood
24–26 August: En route to Argostóli, Greece.
26–30 August: At Argostóli.
30 August–1 September: En route to Split, Yugoslavia.
01–08 September: At Split.
08–10 September: En route to Malta.
10–30 September: At Malta for dry-docking.
30 September–03 October: En route to Arzew, Algeria.
03–05 October: At Arzew.
05–06 October: En route to Gibraltar.
06–21 October: At Gibraltar.
21–23 October: At Tangier.
23–27 October: At Gibraltar.
27–29 October: En route to Palma.
29–31 October: At Palma.
31 October–01 November: En route to Barcelona.
01 November: At Barcelona.
01–02 November: En route to Valencia.
02 November: At Valencia.
02–03 November: En route to Palma.
03–04 November: At Palma.
04–06 November: En route to Malta.
06 November–31 December: At Malta (06 November 1937 - 05 January 1938). Taken in hand for docking, 08 November - 16 December.
01–05 January: Still at Malta.
05–07 January: En route to Palma.
7–11 January: At Palma.
11–12 January: En route to Barcelona.
12–13 January: At Barcelona.
13–14 January: En route to Valencia.
14 January: At Valencia.
14–15 January: En route to Palma.
15–19 January: At Palma.
19–20 January: En route to Marseilles, France.
20–22 January: At Marseilles
22–23 January: En route to Palma.
23–27 January: At Palma.
27–28 January: En route to Barcelona.
28 January: At Barcelona.
28–29 January: At Valencia.
29–30 January: En route to Palma.
30 January–03 February: At Palma.
03–05 February: En route to Malta.
05 February–03 March: At Malta in preparation for the Spring Exercises of Combined Fleets. Taken in hand for docking, 11 February - 03 March.
03–07 March: En route to Gibraltar.
07 March: At Gibraltar.
07–11 March: On exercises.
11–14 March: At Gibraltar.
14–18 March: On exercises.
18–26 March: At Gibraltar.
26–28 March: En route to Palma.
28 March–01 April: At Palma.
01–02 April: En route to Caldetas, NE Spain.
02 April: At Caldetas and Barcelona.
02–03 April: En route to Valencia.
03 April: At Valencia.
03–04 April: En route to Palma.
04–06 April: At Palma.
06–07 April: En route to Barcelona.
07–09 April: At Barcelona.
9–10 April: At Caldetas.
10–11 April: En route to Valencia.
11 April: At Valencia.
11–12 April: En route to Palma.
12–15 April: At Palma.
15–16 April: En route to Barcelona.
16 April: At Barcelona.
16–18 April: At Caldetas.
18 April: At Valencia.
18–19 April: En route to Palma.
19–21 April: At Palma.
21–22 April: En route to Golfe Juan.
22 April–02 May: At Golfe Juan.
02–05 May: At St-Florent, Corsica.
05–07 May: En route to Malta.
07 May–28 June: At Malta in preparation for the Summer Cruise of the Mediterranean Fleet. Taken in hand for rearmament and docking, 16 May - 22 June.
20 May: Captain H.T.C. "Hooky" Walker assumed command of Hood.
28–30 June: En route to Corfu.
30 June–06 July: At Corfu.
06–07 July: En route to Navarin Bay, Greece.
07–20 July: At Navarin Bay.
20–22 July: En route to Malta.
22–26 July: At Malta.
26–28 July: En route to Palma.
28–31 July: At Palma.
31 July–01 August: En route to Caldetas.
01–02 August: At Caldetas.
02–03 August: En route to Gandia.
03–04 August: At Gandia.
04–05 August: En route to Palma.
05–07 August: At Palma.
07–08 August: En route to Gandia.
08–09 August: At Gandia.
09 August: At Caldetas. Departed Caldetas for Marseilles with refugees aboard.
09–10 August: En route to Marseilles While en route on 09 August, rescues crew of SS Lake Lugano which had been bombed at Palamós.
10–11 August: At Marseilles
11–12 August: En route to Caldetas.
12 August: At Caldetas.
12–13 August: At Barcelona.
13–18 August: At Palma.
18–19 August: En route to Malta with H.M.S. Sussex.
19 August–03 September: At Malta.
22 August: Flag of Sir Geoffrey Layton, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted. He has been assigned on 23 July.
03–06 September: En route to Gibraltar.
06–07 September: At Gibraltar.
07–10 September: At Tangier.
10–28 September: At Gibraltar.
20 September: Grounded while leaving harbour; sustained minor damage.
28 September: Departed Gibraltar to escort SS Aquitania (with 6th Infantry? Division embarked?) in company with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.
28 September–01 October: Escorted Aquitania, then proceeded to Gibraltar.
01–17 October: At Gibraltar. Hood's football team played (and beat) a football team from the German Panzerschiff Deutschland.
17–18 October: En route to Gandia.
18 October: At Gandia.
18–19 October: En route to Palma.
19–22 October: At Palma.
22–23 October: En route to Caldetas.
23 October: At Caldetas.
23–24 October: En route to Marseilles
24–26 October: At Marseilles
26–27 October: En route to Palma.
27 October–02 November: At Palma.
02–03 November: En route to Gandia.
03 November: At Gandia. Departed for Marseilles with 150 refugees aboard.
03–04 November: En route to Marseilles
04–07 November: At Marseilles
07–09 November: En route to Malta.
09 November–31 December: At Malta for docking and repairs (09 November 1938 - 10 January 1939).
10 November–12 December: Taken in hand for repairs to 'Y' turret.
24 November–10 December: Taken in hand for docking and repairs.
01–10 January: Still at Malta.
01 January: Famous photo of entire ship's company on forecastle taken by R. Ellis of Valletta.
09 January: Flag of Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Layton transferred to H.M.S. Barham
10–13 January: En route to Gibraltar.
13–14 January: At Gibraltar.
14–18 January: En route to Portsmouth.
18 January–13 August: At Portsmouth. Taken in hand for refit (including replacement of HA armament), turbine repairs and repairs to outer bottom, 23 January - 12 August.
30 Jan: Captain H.T.C. "Hooky" Walker transferred to H.M.S. Barham. Temporary command is assigned to Commander William Davis.
03 May: Captain Captain Irvine G. Glennie assumed command.
01 June: Flag of William J. Whitworth, Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, hoisted.
02 June: Re-commissioned for service as Flagship, Battle Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet
13–14 August: En route to Scapa Flow with H.M.S. Courageous and possibly H.M.S. Sturdy.
14–15 August: At Scapa Flow.
15–16 August: En route to location "XKD" (possibly Loch Ewe or Rosyth).
16–17 August: At XKD.
17–18 August: En route to Scapa Flow.
18–19 August: En route to XKD.
19–20 August: At XKD.
20–21 August: En route to Invergordon.
21–24 August: At Invergordon.
24–25 August: En route to Scapa Flow.
25–31 August: At Scapa Flow.