At the outset of World War II no vehicle of war evoked more reverence, passion, terror, or pure destructive firepower, than the mighty battleship. For sheer grandeur these majestic floating fortresses were in a class of their own.

Simon Atack continues his battleship theme with a magnificent study of HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, as she steams majestically through the Swept Channel departing Scapa Flow on 22 May, 1941. Having fuelled at the naval base in Scotland, she steers clear of floats suspending torpedo and submarine nets, as she heads for open water and the North Sea. The crew of a naval cutter wave farewell as the mighty battleship departs upon what will prove to be her final voyage: Just a few days later she encountered the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Straits. In the exchange that followed, Bismarck's second and third salvoes made direct hits on Hood. Her magazines exploded and the mighty battleship sank in minutes taking all but three of her complement of 1420 sailors with her. We are honored to have the only living survivor sign this superb limited edition print.