HOOD CLASS

[1916]

As it was known that Germany was building several battle cruisers to be armed with 15 in. guns the D.N.C. was instructed in 1915 to prepare designs for ships of this type embodying the latest ideas as regards armament, speed and underwater protection. A considerable number were submitted to the Board, but as there were no large berths available, orders could not be placed before the spring of 1916. In March the approved design was worked out, and this formed the original basis for the Hood.

Dimensions 810’/860' x 104' x 25' 6" (normal) 29' (deep)--36,300 tons.

Armament   8 15-in. guns.

  16 5.5-in.  Guns.

2 21-in. torpedo tubes.

Armour   Equal to that of the Tiger with 8" belt and 9" barbettes. Machinery   144,000 S.H.P.--32 knots.

Small tube boilers.

Orders were placed for four ships in April 1916:

In June came the reports on Jut land, when as a result of the damage done both to our own and the German battle cruisers it was decided that a radical increase in protection was indicated. Fisher's dictum that "Speed is the best Protection" went by the board, as did the former conception of the battle cruiser. There could be no longer any question of securing high speed by reducing Armour weight in an elongated hull of approximately battleship displacement. Ships intended for the battle line would have to carry protection on battleship scale, and thus the original design for a battle cruiser with Armour on the second-class scale was scrapped in favor of an entirely new conception -- the ultra fast battleship.

As redrafted a scheme of augmented protection was to be accommodated by increase in draught and a slight reduction in speed. The alterations included thickening of the belt from 8 in. to 12 in., barbettes from 9 in. to 12 In., and extra deck protection in region of the magazines. At the same time gun elevation was raised to 30 degrees and modifications made in the torpedo equipment and anti-flash arrangements to the magazines. These changes involved an additional 5,ooo tons raising displacement to 41,200 tons when carrying 1,200 tons of fuel at 28 ½ ft, and 45,200 tons at 31 1/2 ft. with 4,000 tons in the tanks.

At this increased displacement stability conditions were satisfied with a met centric height of 3.3 ft.

Consultations with the Commander-in-Chief delayed final approval for the design with all details of fire and torpedo control, arrangement of bridges, etc. until 1917, so that four years passed before the Hood was ready for service.

When it was learned that the Germans had ceased work on the Graf Spee, Prinz Eitel Friedrich and Furst Bismarck in 1917 the construction of the Howe, Anson and Rodney was stopped after some 86o,ooo pounds had been spent on them; but the Hood, having been launched before the Armistice, was carried to completion.