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The Loss of HMS Hood - But why did it blow up??

Drachinifel

1,474,658 views

Today we look at the destruction of HMS Hood, with a particular focus on how, why and where the ship exploded.

With special thanks to Bill Jurens, who was vital in offering comments and corrections on the script!

Sources:
Bill Jurens - “The Loss of HMS Hood – A Re-examination”, Warship International, No. 2, 1987 - Illustrations of Hood from the same publication
Hood Photos - Bass Moog
Hood Model - Matt Emes https://matthewwemes.myportfolio.com/
www.amazon.co.uk/Battleship-Bismarck-Design-Operational-History/dp/1591145694
www.usni.org/press/books/battleship-bismarck-1

Free naval photos and more - www.drachinifel.co.uk

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Music - ncmepicmusic

20 Comments

@Drachinifel Creator 5 years ago Pinned

Pinned post for Q&A :)

@darrellsmith4204 5 years ago

It says so much about Drach, that after 80 years of "What happened?", my first thought was "I'm glad we will finally be able to put this one to bed"..

@olivercyriax5100 5 years ago

I have been interested in the loss of the Hood for the entirety of my adult life. I am now 70. This is far and away the best exposition of the possibilities and likelihoods. This is the first time in my life I have been impelled to post a commendation of any kind.

@seanross7611 5 years ago

Drach knows more about naval history than I know about my own life

@Kyle-sr6jm 3 years ago

One of my relatives who survived WWII said, "What is probable and possible stops counting when combat starts" and "The enemy has luck too".

He phrased it a bit more colorfully.

@Digmen1 5 years ago

My uncle was a stoker on the Hood when it went down.
My mother, his sister, told me he was so proud to be a member of the crew.

@NicolaiAwesome 5 years ago (edited)

My old man was on HMS Suffolk. I lost him as a kid and amongst many regrets is the sad fact that I never got the chance to have an meaningful, adult conversation about the hunt for Bismarck (or even the British navy in general). But my love for warships has never wavered. Thanks, Drach!

@lilcommandergaming8573 4 years ago

41:48 I’ve always loved that despite its inevitable death the ship gave one last FU before going under

@sheogorath979 5 years ago

I'm baffled that you're willing to make such well researched, thorough and high quality content for practically free, these lectures could very well be part of the most prestigious universities

@burnstick1380 5 years ago

Most people: hood sunk because of its thin deck armour
Drach: and thats were you're wrong kiddo

@aDogboydave 5 years ago (edited)

Most people: "No way anyone could get that kind of lucky shot."
Bismarck Rudder: "Am I a joke to you? "

@kevinbendall9119 5 years ago

When I was serving in the U.S. Reserves after my active duty tour, I worked with a very good Senior Chief who was a nuclear engineer. In civilian life, he worked for a company that had a contract to design the ammunition hoists for the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt. A major consideration of the design was to prevent the bypassing of the safeties so blast doors could be open simultaneously. Million were spent "sailor proofing" the lift system. He told me that on the first acceptance sea trials, it took the crew forty minutes to defeat the interlocks and open all of the blast doors at the same time. So much for that theory...

@robbhahn8897 4 years ago

Its interesting to note that, although Prince of Wales retreated behind a smoke screen after the Hood was sunk, she got 2 crucial hits on the Bismark, 1 straight though her bow causing a large amount of flooding and a reduction in Bismark's speed, and another one in one of Bismarks fuel tanks causing a loss of critical fuel and also causing a trail to be formed behind Bismark that made her easier to spot by ally planes. RIP crew and officers of POW, you did your part.

@hondansx1000 5 years ago

Man, the Hood family was really unlucky. One descendent of Horatio Hood dies when his Battlecruiser detonates at Jutland, and the same thing happens again to the ship of his namesake

@richardanderson2742 5 years ago

Spectacular failures almost always result from multiple unanticipated events occurring simultaneously. While I always find Drach’s work interesting, this one is of doctorial quality.