She was affectionately known as ‘The Might Hood’ and was the final battlecruiser built by the navy.
Battlecruisers were similar to battleships in terms of armament and cost, but had slightly thinner armour and a lighter main gun battery.
During World War Two HMS Hood was stationed in the North Atlantic but in May 1941 she was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck.
Only three people onboard survived and were collected about two hours after the ship was destroyed.
The ship was struck by shells near its ammunition magazines which exploded, and caused Hood to sink. The wreckage was discovered in 2001.
Until the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Hood was the biggest ship ever built by the navy.
We have had a look back through the archives to find some historic and rare photos of the Mighty Hood.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: HMS Hermes | HMS Vanguard | HMS Ark Royal
9. Memories of HMS Hood
Leonard F W Mitchell, on the HMS Hood & sporting the cap tally, born 1920, aged 21 by the fateful day of 24 May 1941. Photo: The News archive
10. Memories of HMS Hood
The battlecruiser HMS Hood leaving Portsmouth between the wars. Photo: The News archive
11. Memories of HMS Hood
Ginger the cat from HMS Hood. Undated Ginger the male tabby cat, aboard Hood during the mid-late 1930's. He was definitely aboard during Hood's involvement in the Spanish Civil War during her 1936-1939 service, with another cat called Fishcakes, a smaller "tuxedo" cat. Photo: The News archive
12. Memories of HMS Hood
The Iconic and much loved battlecruiser HMS Hood entering Portsmouth Harbour. It caused overwhelming sadness when she was sunk by the Bismark. Photo: The News archive