Maritime record MWX2121 - Hood

The remains of the 1914 wreck of HMS HOOD: a British battleship which was deliberately scuttled and left to founder in Portland Harbour as a blockship in the early days of World War I. Constructed of steel in 1891, she was propelled by screw-driven turbine engines.

Built: 1891 Launched: 1891 Builder: Chatham Dockyard HP: 144000 Propulsion: Screw driven x 4, turbine engines Armament: 8 x 15in; 12 x 5.5in; 4 x 4in; 4 x 3pdr; 4 x TT Owner: Royal Navy 17-JUN-1963 Dangerous wreck sunken vessel, entrance closed in 50 34 07.5N, 02 25 12W. 13-JUL-1967 Wreck reported covered with weed, which present a dangerous hazard to novice divers. 08-OCT-1985 Wreck lies SW/NE across south ship channel. Not fully examined but least echo sounder depth of 2m obtained. Reasonable depth of water exists between wreck and d head - this channel being regularly used by small fishing boats that can pass under the power cable that spans the channel. (1)

HMS HOOD was removed from the fleet list in March 1911, towed to Portsmouth and placed in material reserve. She was then used as a target in torpedo tests, but at the outbreak of WW1 was towed to Portland and sunk across the south ship channel in order to block the entrance through the breakwater against enemy attack. Wreck lies in a general depth of 15-18m, orientated SW/NE and completely upside down, with her keel only 2m below the surface at low water. (2)(3)

04-NOV-1914 HMS HOOD a Royal Sovereign class battleship was deliberately sunk in the southern entrance of Portland Harbour to protect shipping in the harbour from prowling submarines. She now lies in 18m and is rusting quite badly, but the hull is covered with growth and the keel covered with kelp. Structurally bollards and companionways are still visible and the engine room may still be accessible. Marine life is in abundance with Pollock, Cuckoo Wrasse and Tom Pot Blennies. There is a strong current at times especially on the ebb. (5)

HMS HOOD 50 34.06N, 002 25.12W A 14,000 ton battleship sunk as a blockship on 04-NOV-1914. She still sits vertical on the seabed but upside down. Her keel covered in kelp is two metres from the surface at low water and prevents the entrance or exit of any craft much bigger than an inflatable. The depth is 18m and can be subject to a fierce current, and is starting to rust badly. (6)

HMS HOOD 50 34.10N, 002 25.22W An old Sovereign class battleship she almost completely seals the south ship channel entrance to Portland Harbour. At the last moment, after her cocks were opened and she was flooded, she very suddenly and unexpectedly turned over so now sits upside down. (7)

04-NOV-1914 HOOD, 14,000 ton battleship deliberately sunk to block the southern entrance to Portland Roads. (8)

HMS HOOD sits upside down just 2 metres below the surface and is subject to fierce currents on the ebb tide and is breaking up.(11)(12)(13)

Four 3 brass screws were recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.10N 002 25.22W. (Droit A/533).(10)
A tannoy speaker recovered from this wreck in the entrance of Portland Harbour. (Droit A/627).(10)
Four ceramic tiles, a sight glass, switchboard cover and four brass plaques recovered from this wreck in position 50 34.10N 002 25.22W. (Droit A/647).(10)
A brass label saying gyroscopes recovered from this site. (Droit A/749).(10)
A lead sink recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/822).(10) A valve wheel recovered from this wreck at the entrance to Portland Harbour. (Droit A/1362).(10)
A tap, a valve, and 4 bearing blocks recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/1723).(10)
A screw and some wooden decking recovered from this wreck in Portland Harbour. (Droit A/1811).(10)
A hinge recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/1882).(10) A valve handle recovered from this wreck, Weymouth Harbour. (Droit A/1919).(10)
An airbank hoop, 2 door hinges and 2 deck fittings recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.10N 002 25.10W. (Droit A/2386).(10)
2 tiles recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/2406) (10)
A grille/vent recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/2985).(10)
A water cap recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/3383).(10)
A brass pulley block recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.10N 002 25.12W. (Droit A/3569).(10)
A small brass door hinge, and a floor or wall tile recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.10N 002 25.22W. (Droit A/3857).(10)
A 27 and 2 x 32 brass hinges recovered from this wreck, Weymouth. (Droit A/3874).(10)
13 tiles recovered from this wreck, Portland Harbour. (Droit A/3960).(10)
A brass porthole and deadlight recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/4158).(10)
A voice pipe, a floor grille, a drip tray, a telegraph front bell, and a degree gauge recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/4180).(10)

Five deck hatch clips, and a magazine hatch door, recovered from the wreck of the HOOD in Portland Harbour. (Droit 285/02) (16)

A brass plate embossed with the word 'Patterns', measuring 9cm x 5cm, recovered from the seabed, 4m away from the wreck of HMS HOOD on the seaward side. (Droit 053/03) (17)

A group of four floor tiles, stuck together with adhesive, recovered from the wreck of HMS HOOD, across the entrance to Portland Harbour. (Droit 127/03) (17)

Portland Port Ltd., which has control over Portland Harbour, has banned all diving on the HOOD from 1st January 2004 for an indefinite period, after a recent survey indicated the wreck has degraded and is now collapsing in on itself. (12)

A porthole recovered from HMS HOOD some 20+ years ago in Portland Harbour, i.e. before the wreck was protected by the Portland Harbour Authority. (Droit 046/05) (13)

Seen to be located approximately 590m along the southern breakwater arm from the landward end, lying flush to the north of the arm. (15)

Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:

HMS HOOD was removed from the fleet list in March 1911, towed to Portsmouth and placed in material reserve. She was then used as a target in torpedo tests, but at the outbreak of WWI was towed to Portland and sunk across the south ship channel in order to block the entrance through the breakwater against enemy attack. (2)(3)

04-NOV-1914: HMS HOOD, a Royal Sovereign-class battleship, was deliberately sunk in the southern entrance of Portland Harbour to protect shipping in the harbour from prowling submarines. (5)

HMS HOOD was used to block the southern entrance to Portland Harbour on 04-NOV-1914. (6)(7)(12)

04-NOV-1914: HOOD, 14,000 ton battleship deliberately sunk to block the southern entrance to Portland Roads. (8)

Built: 1891 (3)(9)
Launched: 1891 (3)(9)
Builder: Chatham Dockyard (3)(9)
HP: 144000 (3)
Propulsion: 4 screw driven turbine engines (3)
Armament: 8 x 15in; 12 x 5.5in; 4 x 4in; 4 x 3pdr; 4 x TT (3)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

In early 2004, Portland Port banned diving on HMS Hood for an indefinite period which may last until the wreck is removed or Portland Port takes an alternative decision. This is in response to reports that the Hood is collapsing. (37)

gross tonnage

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<2> Larn, Richard, 1992, United Kingdom shipwreck index, Extracted 09-JUN-1993 Page(s) N/a (Index). SWX5030.

<3> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<4> 1999, Diver [incorporating Underwater World] 1999 No. 9 September, p50-51 (Article in serial). SWX6075.

<5> 1999, 990 Issue 4, Summer 1999 Vol 1 Page(s) 56-57 (HMS Hood) (Article in serial). SWX6076.

<6> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1990, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (2nd Edition), Wreck No. 100, p85-86. (Monograph). SWX5640.

<7> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition), Wreck 140, p111, picture (Monograph). SWX1.

<8> 1976, Dorset magazine : the county magazine vol. 50, p23 (Article in serial). SWX4560.

<9> Colledge, J J, 1969, Ships of the Royal Navy. Volume 1: major ships, p270 (Monograph). SWX4826.

<10> 2001, Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Receiver of Wreck Amnesty (Index). SWX4542.

<11> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Shipwreck 24 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<12> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1990, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (2nd Edition), Wreck No 100 p85/86 (Monograph). SWX5640.

<13> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1984, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (1st Edition), No 100, p85-6 (Monograph). SWX1714.

<14> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/0749 (Unpublished document). SWX317.

<15> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck 127/03 (Unpublished document). SWX39.

<16> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck 285/02 (Unpublished document). SWX125.

<17> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/0533 (Unpublished document). SWX270.

<18> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/0647 (Unpublished document). SWX295.

<19> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/4180 (Unpublished document). SWX665.

<20> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/0822 (Unpublished document). SWX326.

<21> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1362 (Unpublished document). SWX426.

<22> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1723 (Unpublished document). SWX454.

<23> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1811 (Unpublished document). SWX462.

<24> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1830 (Unpublished document). SWX463.

<25> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/4158 (Unspecified Type). SWX664.

<26> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1919 (Unpublished document). SWX469.

<27> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/2386 (Unpublished document). SWX509.

<28> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/2406 (Unpublished document). SWX516.

<29> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/2985 (Unpublished document). SWX572.

<30> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/3383 (Unpublished document). SWX596.

<31> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/3569 (Unpublished document). SWX607.

<32> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/3857 (Unpublished document). SWX641.

<33> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/3874 (Unpublished document). SWX643.

<34> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/3960 (Unpublished document). SWX649.

<35> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/1882 (Unpublished document). SWX465.

<36> Receiver of Wreck, Droit of the Receiver of Wreck A/0627 (Unpublished document). SWX287.

<37> Anon, 2004, Portland Harbour Authority Limited: Press Statement (Digital archive). SWX8818.

<38> National Record of the Historic Environment, 904643 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 26 2024 4:35PM