Historically, the main British naval bases were located near the English Channel to better face England's old enemies, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. In 1904, in response to the build-up of the German Kaiserliche Marine's High Seas Fleet, it was decided that a northern base was needed to control the entrances to the North Sea. First Rosyth was considered for the base, then Invergordon at Cromarty Firth, but construction in both places was delayed, leaving them largely unfortified by the outbreak of the First World War. Scapa Flow had been used many times for exercises in the years leading up to the War and, when the time came for the fleet to move to a northern station, Scapa Flow was chosen for the main base of the British Grand Fleet, even though it was also unfortified. HMS Hood operated from Scapa Flow at various times both before and after her assignment to the Mediterranean and duty as Flagship of Force H, as a Convoy Escort and to patrol against German Commerce Raiders. It was from Scapa Flow that Hood would put to sea to meet her fate under the guns of Bismarck. HMS Hood and other ships by me. Rendered in Daz Studio 2.3 Postwork in Photoimpressions 4