# Why was HMS Hood special?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626 "2023-06-16T14:00:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626/101 "2025-10-15T06:11:52Z")

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International treaties limited new built displacement to a good bit less than hers; shortly after her commissioning. Making her a one off oddity.

She was the longtime flagship of a maritime based empire; likely with a good bit of unreasonable propaganda.

A decent movie, and a horrible song.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626/102 "2025-10-15T12:10:54Z")

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> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> I’d say the Japanese ones with their “pagoda” masts definitely take the cake in the ugly competition:

Aaaah, yes John-san. The famous IJN _Jenga_ class. 😁

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**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626/103 "2025-10-15T12:31:11Z")

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_Yamato_ is, fittingly, the most aggressive-looking, but IMO not attractive. She looks like a sports car that ate 3 VW Beetles. _Kongō_ is much prettier, more svelte. The pagoda is the only flaw, and that was rectified: her sister _Hiei_ was later given the prototype for _Yamato’s_ superstructure.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626/104 "2025-10-17T15:25:01Z")

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I’ve loved the _Kongō_ since I built a plastic model of her as a kid.

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**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hms-hood-special/985626/105 "2025-10-20T01:14:53Z")

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Ah! I had one of _Hiei._

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