She was tall and handsome, long and wide.

And filled British hearts with incredible pride.

She was the mighty HOOD.

For twenty-one years, she was the largest ship on earth.

And as a goodwill ambassador, she proudly made her way from berth to berth.

She was the mighty HOOD.

Whenever a sailor caught a glimpse of her majesty.

He dreamt of the day when he could be part of her gallantry.

She was the mighty HOOD.

Her eight 15 inch guns made her strong, and her 145,000 horse power made her lightning fast.

This made her crew confident that in a surface fight, her opponent would never last.

She was the mighty HOOD.

On the early morning of May 24 1941, she sailed boldly in defense of her beloved British Empire.

At 29 knots, she stormed into battle, her 15 inch guns hissing fury and barking a thunderous fire.

She was the mighty HOOD.

Six minutes in, however, something went terribly dack.

The ship shook from a powerful whack.

A lucky hit deonated her aft magazines and broke her steel back.

But even as her bow slipped beneath the icy water of the North Atlantic.

Her two forward turrets fired one last defiant blast at her adversarial fanatic.

She was the Mighty HOOD.