HMS Hood is a British battlecruiser of the interwar period and World War II. It was built in 1918 and entered service two years later. It was 262.3 meters long. The cruiser's main artillery armament consisted of eight BL Mk I guns, caliber 381 mm. In the interwar period, the cruiser was the showpiece of the Royal Navy as the largest ship in the world. After the outbreak of World War II and the defeat of France, he was transported to Gibraltar where he joined Unit H.