HMS Hood

This a photo was taken at Coronation Fleet Review of King George VI at Spithead, 20 May 1937.

HMS Hood is in the center left with the light between the funnels.

The 1937 Fleet Review has been described by military historian Hedley Paul Willmott as "the last parade of the Royal Navy as the world's greatest and most prodigious navy".

Ten British battleships and battlecruisers were present, and for the first time at a coronation review, four aircraft carriers. Altogether, there were 101 surface warships, 22 submarines and 11 auxiliaries drawn from the Home, Mediterranean and Reserve Fleets.

By tradition, foreign navies were invited to send a single warship each to the review and seventeen were present. Notable among them were the USS New York, the new French battleship Dunkerque and the elderly Soviet Marat. Germany was represented by the formidable looking "pocket battleship" Admiral Graf Spee, and the Empire of Japan sent heavy cruiser Ashigara to attend the ceremony.

It was the last big gathering of the world's navies before the outbreak of hostilities 2 years later.

Credit: [♤ Modern Military History ♤( @ combatpix )](https://www.imgrum.pw/user/combatpix/4904339610)