Ian Lowe, 20th Century

This painting shows the moment, a few minutes before 6am. on 24th May 1941, when H.M.S. Hood, wearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Lancelot Holland, was hit by shell on her boat deck, starting a fire in the 4-inch ready-use ammunition store. A few minutes later Hood was hit again, a column of smoke or flame erupted 'like a geyser' and a huge detonation took place. Hood blew up leaving only three survivors. The battlecruiser H.M.S. Prince of Wales is seen on Hood's starboard quarter, and the German ships, Prinz Eugen and Bismarck are on the horizon, approximately twelve miles away.