 Hood was relieved as flagship of Force H by Renown on 10 August after returning to Scapa Flow . After a short refit she resumed her previous role in patrolling against German commerce raiders and convoy escort . This lasted until January 1941 when she began a refit that lasted until March . Upon its completion she was ordered to sea in an attempt to intercept the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst . Unsuccessful , she was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay against any breakout attempt by the German ships from Brest . Hood was ordered to the Norwegian Sea on 19 April when the Admiralty received a false report that the Bismarck had sailed from Germany . Afterwards she patrolled the North Atlantic before putting into Scapa Flow on 6 May . 
