Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:23:48-2:24:32

Renown, Hood, and two different forms of protection

Hood carried stronger external armor, but Renown's finer internal subdivision offered more resilience after a projectile penetrated the belt.

Armour ProtectionBattlecruisersDamage ControlHMS HoodRenown Class BattlecruisersWarship Design
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Question

Was Renown a battleship in a battlecruiser's hull while Hood was a battlecruiser in a battleship's hull?

Short answer

Broadly yes: Hood had the stronger outer armor, while Renown relied more heavily on internal subdivision and resilience.

Notes

Renown can be described as a battleship arranged in a battlecruiser's shape, with Hood as the reverse. Hood's external armor presented the harder initial barrier. Renown, however, divided its interior more extensively, giving flooding and blast fewer uninterrupted paths through the ship. Survivability depends on internal subdivision as well as nominal belt thickness.