H.M.S. Hood Today
Photos of the Wreck of H.M.S. Hood in 2001

Updated 15-Jan-2021

Contained herein, are many photos of the wreck of H.M.S. Hood as it appeared at the bottom of the Denmark Strait in 2001. We owe a special debt of gratitude to our friend David L. Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries Ltd, for generously allowing us to post these photos here. Additionally, we would also like to thank renowned author and draughtsman John Roberts for his invaluable assistance in helping us to identify items pictured here. Lastly, much thanks to accomplished graphics artist Thomas Schmid, for the computer renderings shown here.

Important Notice: These photographs have been exclusively loaned for display here on the official H.M.S. Hood Association web site, and are not to be downloaded or republished elsewhere without the express permission of David L. Mearns and Blue Water Recoveries Ltd. The wreck renderings may not be downloaded or republished elsewhere without the express permission of Thomas Schmid.

Assorted Debris & Wreckage, Part 3
When Hood exploded, collapsed and sank, the ship was violently ripped apart. Much of what was deposited on the ocean floor was severely distorted, making recognition difficult. When preparing these pages, we were only able to consult the photos presented here. We were not able to view the raw video footage, nor see most items from different perspectives. These limitations, combined with the lack of any scale indicator, made precise determinations difficult at best. Nevertheless, we've done our best to identify the various pictured pieces here.

Please note that we have slightly modified some of these photos; some were lightened/brightened a small amount to reduce the "murkiness" inherent in underwater photographs. Lastly, please be aware that this page is image intensive, and may take some time to fully load.

Sonar view of the Hood wreck site: On the left, the original Ocean Explorer 6000 side-scan sonar image from July 2001; On the right, an enhanced and annotated version.

 
Above- Underside of a 4" twin gun mounting. The front of the mounting would be just to the right of the centre/top in this photo (near the small pinion gear). This is the gearing and circuitry which permitted the gun to be rotated, etc. Inset- One of the 4" mounts as seen shortly before the loss of the ship.

Assorted debris. The large rectangular structure is overhead ventilation trunking. Note the spherical punkah louvres (for directing air flow). Hood's 1940 medical logs make note of a new type of louvre being added to improved ventilation throughout the ship. This is very likely the type of vent in question.

Another view of this debris area. Note yet another boot in the wreckage.

A third view of this same area.

This is either a shelf/storage system, a small flag locker or portion of one of Hood's four main flag lockers.

The rear of a 21" torpedo. Inset- Hood firing one of her torpedoes in the mid 1930s.

 
Another view of the torpedo. Note the heavy layer of sediment coating its body.

A lamp amidst the debris.

A piece of unidentified machinery from Hood.

Smashed machinery. Possibly a turbo generator.

Chunk of debris containing what appear to be machinery supports.

More debris. Inset- These objects may be tins that have rusted together. Perhaps they were in a wooden container that has since rotted away.

Twisted metal plating. The single row of rivet holes at bottom and along far edge would indicate a superstructure or internal minor structure rather than main hull structure. Note the extensive electrical wiring.

More debris. Possibly ventilation trunking, or part of an ammunition hoist.

One of the three HACS Mk III* directors. Its difficult to see if any of its base remains. It is not clear if it is from abreast the bridge or from the After Superstructure. It is in the western debris field. Inset- A HACS director aboard Hood in 1940.

A piece of wreckage with a ladder and another unidentified mechanism.