Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Management - Essay Example In this context, the management of risk has become an indispensable part of strategic management. It should be noted that the risk management approaches used by businesses worldwide are not standardized. This means that organizations of different size and characteristics can choose the risk management approach that best suits to their needs. Current paper focuses on risk as an element of the project management. Reference is made to a particular company, the Informative Web Systems (IWS). The firm operates in the Australian market for about a decade. Since last year, the performance of the firm has been deteriorated, being decreased for about 8% compared to 2009. The failures of the project risk management of the firm have been considered as responsible for this outcome. The current project risk management of the firm is evaluated compared to other project risk management approaches – as presented in the literature. ... In businesses the effects of risk are usually related to the decrease of organizational performance. The level at which risk can be estimated by reviewing the common consequences of similar risks in businesses operating in the same industrial sector (Khosrowpour 2001, 142). In accordance with Kaye and Graham (2006, 6) one of the most usual characteristics of risk is that it cannot be fully eliminated; it can always appear, in different forms, even it has been already faced successfully. Moreover, Bowden, Lane and Martin (2001, 5) note that the failures in managing risk can have a series of consequences for the businesses involved, including ‘sanctions for directors, civil claims and legal costs’ (Bowden, Lane and Martin 2001, 5). The effective management of risk means that risk related to the operations of a particular organization is effectively identified and addressed (Bowden, Lane and Martin 2001, 165). Referring specifically to the risks related to projects, Merna a nd Al-Thani (2008, 42) noted that the management of such risk refers to a series of non-monetary issues/ needs, such as: environment, people, ethics and quality (Merna and Al-Thani, 2008, 42). 2.2 Project risk management approaches in Informative Web Systems (IWS) 2.2.1 Project risk management in IWS - overview One of the priorities of the project risk management approach used in Informative Web Systems is the limitation of risk in the beginning of each project – reference is made to the risks related to the initial phases of the firm’s projects. Because of the need for continuous update of the technology involved in the development of the firm’s project, the risk management approach developed by the firm’s managers has been based on the following principles: a) risk related to

The Power of a Complaint Letter Essay Example for Free

The Power of a Complaint Letter Essay Every business hungers to be successful. Businesses want to put their best foot forward, and their best product to the consumer. However, on occasion, people become upset or disappointed when the product or service does not reach expectation. In this case, businesses often receive the dreaded complaint letter from customers. The purpose of a complaint letter is to bring a grievance to the attention of an owner or manager of the business, so action can be taken as soon as possible. When writing a complaint letter it is important to include appeals to the audience, structure of the letter, tone, and context. Also keep in mind, that playing into the emotions by usage of ethos, pathos, and logos can positively sway the result. Three complaint letters written by Ken Thomas, Chad Bradley, and Kyle Westergren are about having recently bought a pair of shoes from Reebok, PUMA, and Cool Sports Inc. Complaint letters are the reason that businesses strive to please their customers, and take into consideration the constructive criticism of another person. Before crafting an effective complaint letter, one must first realize who their audience is, and what the purpose is. Consider who will be reading the letter and how likely or unlikely it is that the recipient will be sympathetic toward the complaint presented. Be clear on solutions given, and what can be done in return to fix the problem. The writers of a complaint letter want to address their issue by appealing to a specific audience. This audience could be board members, general managers, or even CEOs. In this case, the three complaint letters written by Thomas, Bradley, and Westergren, have expressed their problem to the general managers of the stores in which they purchased the shoes, and are seeking some sort of credit towards a new pair of shoes. By asking for a credit, one also wants to provide the reader with reason as to why restitution is being asked of, which is why one must first recognize the organization and structure of a persuasive complaint letter. The basic context and structure of a complaint letter is pretty simple. Usually, the letters will first contain a heading in the upper left hand corner. It will include all the credentials of the writer and business, including the address of both the addresser and addressee. Then, there is a greeting, such as â€Å"Dear Sir or Madam†. I have written a complaint letter before and usually put â€Å"To Whom It May Concern†, because it may be forwarded to different departments of the company. The opening paragraph should also include context of the situation. The context is basically a form of background information. In the letter written by Chad Bradley, he explains how he had left his shoes in his front porch overnight, and now they had shrunk at least three sizes (Bradley). This type of information should help picture the situation and should provide the writer’s problem to the reader. An account or tracking number can also be beneficial to the reader so that he or she may reference the order, see exactly what was purchased, and how much of a credit should be given if need be. The next section of the letter should include relevant dates or times of when the merchandise was purchased. In the letter to Cool Sports Inc. by Ken Thomas, he explains the chain of dates throughout his order. â€Å"I had been looking at your website since the beginning of June, placed my order on June 21st, and received my package on June 26th† (Thomas). This clarification of time can help the reader produce a timeframe of the events. The last section of a well-written complaint letter explains what type of restitution the writer wishes to receive; it shows the reader of the assertiveness the writer is trying to prove, without being rude or offensive. â€Å"To resolve the problem, I would like you to credit my account for the amount charged on my credit card† (Thomas) explains what Thomas would like done in order to please him, and resolve the issue. When writing a complaint letter, one does not want to be rude to the reader, because a temperamental, rude letter will not go far. By being assertive, yet respectful, one can achieve proper settlement. Now that a basic structure is known when writing a complaint letter, one must appeal to the reader by use of logic. Appealing to logic, or logos, includes both an overall argument and the evidence used to support the argument. To build an effective argument, one must first provide some sort of background information to provide the reader with context as to why the letter is being written in the first place. This was done in the previous paragraph to also show the chain of events in order for the reader to know the timeframe of the situation. In Westergren’s letter, he clearly states why he is upset: â€Å"The problem came when these sneakers turned out no different than the last two pairs, and fell apart. I expect quality when making a purchase, especially when spending almost $100 on shoes. † Westergren clearly states his problem, and I feel he plays a little bit into pathos as well by accusing the company of selling low quality materials. Once one has identified their primary arguments, provide supporting evidence such as details as to what happened to the product, how long ago the product was purchased, and were there other products of the same brand that this has also happened to. By explaining this information to them, it can provide the company with the knowledge that it may not have happened to just you, the writer, but other valued customers as well. Logical appeals are most effective in complaint letters when they are based on both reasoning and credible, supporting evidence. Some people feel it is beneficial to play the â€Å"poor me† card when writing a letter, by directly channeling to the readers moral emotion; pathos. When appealing to readers’ emotions, or pathos, one can also strengthen a complaint letter, especially when wanting to convince the audience. Emotional appeals can be engaging to the audience, but the use of pathos should be appropriate to the situation and the audience. If one is writing a letter of complaint to a shoe manufacturer, in this case, with the intention of receiving a replacement product or account credit, one should appeal to the readers emotions in such a way that she or he can identify with the same concerns so that it does not happen again. Bradley explains in his letter beforehand that this is his only pair of running shoes, works at a gym, and does an incredible job in his last paragraph of expressing pathos. I blame Reebok as much as myself for the shrunken shoes, but now I am worried that I may lose my job, and I do not know where else to turn† (Bradley). By this statement, he is invoking the reader to feel sorry for him, and assuring he is unable to do his job without a pair of running shoes. On the other hand, avoid expressing emotion in such a way that your audience will feel angered or aliena ted. This type of slander will only anger the manager or owner, and nothing will be done of the issue. In complaint letters, one can make strong emotional ties through the use of compelling supporting evidence and persuasive language. One must also make sure to not forget the powerful evidence of credibility when trying to prove the worthiness of a settlement. Appealing to authority, or ethos, begins with one’s own credibility or trustworthiness. In a complaint letter, one can appeal to authority through overall tone as the writer. One must convince the audience of respectfulness towards them and truthfulness about the subject. One can do this by using language that is fair and unbiased. One can also use examples and illustrations that show how well-known the subject is. Such evidence could be how long one has known the business or been a customer since. Westergren provides a perfect example of establishing his credibility in his opening paragraph. â€Å"I really enjoy the style and type of sneaker your company makes (PUMA) because it is a unique style, and that is my reasoning for being a repeat customer for more than 5 years. By stating this, Westergren shows that he has been a satisfied customer for over five years, and now is shocked that he found a flaw in this company, which is the reason he is now writing this letter. Another example comes from Ken Thomas’s letter: â€Å"I have been a satisfied customer for many years, and this is the first time I have encountered a problem with your company. † This quote also shows that Thomas has been a customer for many years, and is also shocked to have had an issue. By stating that you, as a customer, have bought many years’ worth of merchandise from a company or business shows that you, as the customer, know what quality is expected. Taking the time to use ethos in a complaint letter helps to build greater trust and establishes credibility in a positive way for the writer. Lastly, the tone of the writer can cause all of the other appeals to be thrown out, because if the writer has a tone where it is insulting, slandering, or rude, the reader will toss it aside. In order to have the letter read, one must appeal to an assertive, yet polite form of writing. Tone by definition is the writers’ attitude toward the reader, and subject of the message. â€Å"Me, I prefer to stay with the classics: a nice suit, a warm cardigan, socks from Marks Spencer, that kind of thing† (Bradley) shows that Bradley is almost joking with the reader when he writes this statement. He is trying to form a personal connection with the reader, because the reader might agree with his form of style. I feel that by opening yourself up to the reader will show that anger, haste, and revenge are not in the idea behind the letter, but simply the need for a credit, or new pair of hoes. The purpose of a complaint letter is not to slander or be disrespectful to the company or business, but to state your opinion, the problem, and a reasonable solution so that you, as the customer, can tell others of the experience, and provide positive feedback to others as well. By using logic to explain the problem, pathos to explain the problems that are now happening, and ethos to establish why a credit should be received, a writer of a complaint letter can easily earn the respect from a business. By also appealing to the context, which provides background information of the situation, and audience to provide a stance as to who you are trying to reach out to, and voice to still be respectful to the reader, one can ultimately put together a fierce argument, with solid evidence, and an all-around worthy letter. Businesses are always striving to have the highest ratings of their customers, and by taking in the criticism of a few letters, can provide the highest quality service possible.

An Analysis Of The Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

An Analysis of The Lord of the Flies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel Lord of the Flies, written by William Gerald Golding, is a remarkable piece of literature that discusses many important topics while remaining an enjoyable read. One of the important topics that is discussed in the novel is human nature. Many aspects of human nature is depicted in the book, but one major is the development of a man's personality and character. This aspect of human idiosyncrasy is portrayed through the development of Ralph, the main character and protagonist of the novel. Ralph's development from innocent, irresponsible, playful adolescent to a tough, self-reliant man shows how the hardships and turmoil of life can greatly effect a person's character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story takes place on a deserted island after a plane crash strands a group of adolescent boys. The boys are forced to learn how to live on the land without any resources or adult assistance. The group chooses Ralph as their leader and gives him the responsibility of guiding the group. Ralph's main enemy and adversary is Jack, the appointed leader of the savage hunters. The boys go through many trials and hardships while on the island including the dangers of the jungle, finding food, and remaining a functional group.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel's main focus is on Ralph and his experiences on the island. As leader of the group, Ralph has a great deal of responsibility and must learn how to work with this responsibility. Through the course of the story, Ralph changes from an adolescent child to a mature person, but ends up breaking down at the end of the novel. This aspect of Ralph's character is a way that Golding depicts human behavior in society, which is the main theme of the book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the novel begins, Ralph is portrayed as being a normal adolescent who is irresponsible and negligent. Even when he is chosen as leader, he still is depicted as an inexperience boy. One example of this childish action is seen at the beginning of the novel when Ralph plays games while doing serious work. By doing things like this Ralph tries to show the freedom the boys have without any adult supervision. These are not the acts of a responsible leader and is something that Ralph soon comes to regret.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With progression of the story, Ralph's attitudes change as he becomes more responsible and mature. He realizes the importance of being a responsible leader and begins to guide the other boys more. Ralph begins to try to convince the others that they act with the groups best interest at hand and tells them to

Society?s Arthurian Variety :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Writers have reflected the differences in society and individual opinions over many years in their writing by slightly altering the plot of Arthurian Romances to appeal to the interests of their community. Arthurian Romances, at early times, were written with themes of magic and violence whereas legends from later times attributed critical turning points in the plot to the power of love and were more involved, containing a long list of characters. Also affecting the differences in the times are the writer’s nationality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earlier Arthurian Romances were written by Celts. Their warrior mentality led the writers to depict gruesome and violent legends. The beginning of The Wife of Bath’s Tale (Canterbury Tales) blatantly describes a knight, who is supposed to uphold the strict regiment of chivalry, violently raping a virgin at first glance. Such an occurrence commonly appears throughout Celtic Arthurian Romances and is a reminder of the life of war that they led. The rest of The Wife of Bath’s Tale has mystical pretences, signifying the Celt’s belief in the gods of good and evil. The answer to the question of which the malicious knight was questing for was held by a deceptive witch, who appears to be a rich young woman after gaining the knight’s respect. The writing style of the Celts also makes the tale appear to be more mysterious by their to-the-point storytelling by leaving out the details which make tales seem real to the audience, in many cases not ev en giving their characters names instead of positions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the French perspective, Arthurian Romances took on a whole new profile. Many intertwined characters with elegant names such as Lancelot and Gwenyvere, from Excalibur, promote honor and a strong reverence of love. Whereas knights commonly took advantage of their animal instincts in the Celtic tales, they upheld a strict code of honor, chivalry, from the French perspective. The struggle within Lancelot and Gwenyvere to discover why their hearts wanted to make the wrong decision when they already had the right and best situation shows that the French did not totally understand the nature of love and believed it to be unpredictable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arthurian Romances have been depicted in many different ways to tell the same story in the end, but the contrast between the Celtic and French versions sticks out like a sore thumb.

Analysis on TATA group Essay

Introduction Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It encompasses seven business sectors: communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. Tata Group was founded in 1868 by Jamsetji Tata as a trading company. It has operations in more than 80 countries across six continents. Tata Group has over 100 operating companies with each of them operating independently. Out of them 32 are publicly listed. The major Tata companies are Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Teleservices, Titan Industries, Tata Communications and Taj Hotels. The combined market capitalisation of all the 32 listed Tata companies was INR 8.2 Trillion ($ 138 billion) as of July 2014. Tata receives more than 58% of its revenue from outside India. Tata companies and details their business: Chemicals Tata Chemicals Rallis India Tata Pigments Limited General Chemical Industrial Products Brunner Mond Advinus Therapeutics Magadi Soda Company Consumer products Tata Salt I-shakti Casa Dà ©cor Tata Swach Tata Global Beverages Tata Tea Limited is the world’s second largest manufacturer of packaged tea and tea products. Tata Starbucks, is a 50:50 joint venture company, owned by Starbucks Corporation and Tata Global Beverages Eight O’Clock Coffee Tetley Tata Coffee Himalayan, Mount Everest Mineral Water’s natural mineral water brand Tata Ceramics Infiniti Retail (CromÄ ) Tata Industries Titan Industries Trent (Westside) Landmark Bookstores Tata Sky Voltas, consumer electronics company Tata International Ltd. Tanishq Fastrack, Largest & Trendiest Youth Fashion Brand in India Titan Eye+, World class Optical Stores from Titan Industries Tata Refractories Westland Engineering TAL Manufacturing Solutions Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (TACO) Hispano Carrocera Tata Motors, manufacturer of commercial vehicles (largest in India) and passenger cars Jaguar Land Rover (Manager of Tata’s British brands Jaguar cars and Land Rover) Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Tata Projects Tata Technologies Limited Tata Consulting Engineers Limited Tata Cummins Telco Construction Equipment TRF Voltas Global Engineering Centre Tata Advanced Materials Tata Advanced Systems Tata Motors European Technical Centre Tata Petrodyne Tata Precision Industries Telcon Construction Equipment Steel Tata Steel Tata Steel Europe Tata Steel KZN Tata Steel Processing and Distribution JAMIPOL NatSteel Holdings Tata BlueScope Steel Tata Metaliks Tata Sponge Iron Tayo Rolls Literature review What is SWOT analysis A SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT matrix) is a structured planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in a project or in a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place, industry or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. Strengths: characteristics of the business or project that give it an advantage over others. Weaknesses: characteristics that place the business or project at a disadvantage relative to others Opportunities: elements that the project could exploit to its advantage Threats: elements in the environment that could cause trouble for the business or project How SWOT affects strategic decisions The main advantages of conducting a SWOT analysis is that it has little or no cost – anyone who understands your business can perform a SWOT analysis. You can also use a SWOT analysis when you don’t have much time to address a complex situation. This means that you can take steps towards improving your business without the expense of an external consultant or business adviser.Another advantage of a SWOT analysis is that it concentrates on the most important factors affecting your business. Using a SWOT, you can: understand your business better address weaknesses deter threats capitalise on opportunities take advantage of your strengths develop business goals and strategies for achieving them. BCG matrix The growth–share matrix (aka the product portfolio, BCG-matrix, Boston matrix, Boston Consulting Group analysis, portfolio diagram) is a chart that was created by Bruce D. Henderson for the Boston Consulting Group in 1970 to help corporations to analyze their business units, that is, their product lines. This helps the company allocate resources and is used as an analytical tool in brand marketing, product management, strategic management, and portfolio analysis. Analysis of market performance by firms using its principles has recently called its usefulness into question. Cash cows is where a company has high market share in a slow-growing industry. These units typically generate cash in excess of the amount of cash needed to maintain the business. They are regarded as staid and boring, in a â€Å"mature† market, yet corporations value owning them due to their cash generating qualities. They are to be â€Å"milked† continuously with as little investment as possible, since such investment would be wasted in an industry with low growth. Dogs, more charitably called pets, are units with low market share in a mature, slow-growing industry. These units typically â€Å"break even†, generating barely enough cash to maintain the business’s market share. Though owning a break-even unit provides the social benefit of providing jobs and possible synergies that assist other business units, from an accounting point of view such a unit is worthless, not generating cash for the company. They depress a profitable company’s return on assets ratio, used by many investors to judge how well a company is being managed. Dogs, it is thought, should be sold off. Question marks (also known as problem children) are business operating in a high market growth, but having a low market share. They are a starting point for most businesses. Question marks have a potenti al to gain market share and become stars, and eventually cash cows when market growth slows. If question marks do not succeed in becoming  a market leader, then after perhaps years of cash consumption, they will degenerate into dogs when market growth declines. Question marks must be analyzed carefully in order to determine whether they are worth the investment required to grow market share. Stars are units with a high market share in a fast-growing industry. They are graduated question marks with a market or niche leading trajectory, for example: amongst market share front-runners in a high-growth sector, and/or having a monopolistic or increasingly dominant USP with burgeoning/fortuitous proposition drive(s) from: novelty (e.g. Last.FM upon CBS Interactive’s due diligence), fashion/promotion (e.g. newly prestigious celebrity branded fragrances), customer loyalty (e.g. greenfield or military/gang enforcement backed, and/or innovative, grey-market/illicit retail of addictive drugs, for instance the British East India Company’s, late-1700s opium-based Qianlong Emperor embargo-busting, Canton System), goodwill (e.g. monopsonies) and/or gearing (e.g. oligopolies, for instance Portland cement producers near boomtowns),[citation needed] etc. The hope is that stars become next cash cows. Porter five forces analysis Porter five forces analysis is a framework to analyze level of competition within an industry and business strategy development. It draws upon industrial organization (IO) economics to derive five forces that determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. Attractiveness in this context refers to the overall industry profitability. An â€Å"unattractive† industry is one in which the combination of these five forces acts to drive down overall profitability. A very unattractive industry would be one approaching â€Å"pure competition†, in which available profits for all firms are driven to normal profit. This analysis is associated with its principal innovator Michael E. Porter of Harvard University (as of 2014). 1. Threat of new entrants 2. Threat of substitute products or services 3. Bargaining power of customers (buyers) 4. Bargaining power of suppliers 5. Intensity of competitive rivalry Organizational Structure An organizational structure defines how activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision are directed towards the achievement of organizational aims. It can also be considered as the viewing glass or perspective through which individuals see their organization and its environment. Organizations are a variant of clustered entities. An organization can be structured in many different ways, depending on their objectives. The structure of an organization will determine the modes in which it operates and performs. Organizational structure allows the expressed allocation of responsibilities for different functions and processes to different entities such as the branch, department, workgroup and individual. Organizational structure affects organizational action in two big ways. First, it provides the foundation on which standard operating procedures and routines rest. Second, it determines which individuals get to participate in which decision-making processes, and thus to w hat extent their views shape the organization’s actions. Findings & Analysis: Strengths: The internationalization strategy so far has been to keep local managers in new acquisitions, and to only transplant a couple of senior managers from India into the new market. The benefit is that Tata has been able to exchange expertise. For example after the Daewoo acquisition the Indian company leaned work discipline and how to get the final product ‘right first time.’ The company has had a successful alliance with Italian mass producer Fiat since 2006. This has enhanced the product portfolio for Tata and Fiat in terms of production and knowledge exchange. For example, the Fiat Palio Style was launched by Tata in 2007, and the companies have an agreement to build a pick-up targeted at Central and South America. Weaknesses: The company’s passenger car products are based upon 3rd and 4th generation platforms, which put Tata Motors Limited at a disadvantage with competing car manufacturers. Despite buying the Jaguar and Land Rover brands (see opportunities below); Tata has not got a foothold in the luxury car segment in its domestic, Indian market. One weakness which is often not recognised is that in English the word ‘tat’ means rubbish. Would the brand sensitive British consumer ever buy into such a brand? Maybe not. Opportunities: In the summer of 2008 Tata Motor’s announced that it had successfully purchased the Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford Motors for  UK  £2.3 million. Two of the World’s luxury car brand have been added to its portfolio of brands. Tata Motors Limited acquired Daewoo Motor’s Commercial vehicle business in 2004 for around USD $16 million. Nano is the cheapest car in the World – retailing at little more than a motorbike. Whilst the World is getting ready for greener alternatives to gas-guzzlers, is the Nano the answer in terms of concept or brand? Threats: Other competing car manufacturers have been in the passenger car business for 40, 50 or more years. Therefore Tata Motors Limited has to catch up in terms of quality and lean production. Sustainability and environmentalism could mean extra costs for this low-cost producer. Rising prices in the global economy could pose a threat to Tata Motors Limited on a couple of fronts. The price of steel and aluminium is increasing putting pressure on the costs of production.

munich massacre essays

munich massacre essays As soon as Ilana Romana heard about the situation in Munich, she expected the worst: I knew who he was. He would not sit quietly. He was not the type. I knew it would end badly. She spoke of her husband, and, unfortunately, her prediction was correct. Earlier that day, her husband, Yossef, and his teammates were awoken by Arab terrorists beginning an episode that would result in the death of eleven Israeli athletes and forever scar the 1972 Olympics, leaving the games to be remembered for the years to come as the Munich Massacre. Most Germans hoped that the 1972 Olympics would help to heal the racial damage caused by the 1936 Olympics. It was the first time the games had returned to the state since Nazism and Adolph Hitler were in full stride; the first time the games were held in Germany since Hitler had tried to use them as a way to show the superiority of his Aryan race on a worlds stage. At this time, the world was still in political unrest as the Vietnam War raged on, racial tensions in the United States continued, and violence persisted in the Middle East. German president Gustav Heinemann welcomed the Olympics as a milestone on the road to a new way of life with the aim of realizing peaceful coexistence among peoples. His goal was not meant to be, however. At approximately four oclock in the morning on September 5, 1972 (six days before the end of the games), Yossef Gutfreund, a 275 pound wrestling referee, reacted to the sound of Arab voices behind the door of the apartment where he and other Israeli athletes were staying. The terrorists had accessed the building unnoticed as they were dressed in athletic warm-ups and carried their weapons in gym bags. Gutfreund quickly alerted his roommates that something was wrong and proceeded to push his body against the door in an effort to prevent Arab entrance. His efforts were successful for only a few moments, howe...

HMS Hood in World War II

HMS Hood in World War II HMS Hood - Overview: Nation: Great Britain Type: Battlecruiser Shipyard: John Brown Company Laid Down: September 1, 1916 Launched: August 22, 1918 Commissioned: May 15, 1920 Fate: Sunk on May 24, 1940 HMS Hood - Specifications: Displacement: 47,430 tons Length: 860 ft., 7 in. Beam: 104 ft. 2 in. Draft: 32 ft. Propulsion: 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 24 Yarrow water-tube boilers Speed: 31 knots (1920), 28 knots (1940) Range: 5,332 miles at 20 knots Complement: 1,169-1,418 men HMS Hood - Armament (1941): Guns 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I guns (4 turrets with 2 guns each)14 x QF 4-inch Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns24 x QF 2-pdr anti-aircraft guns20 x 0.5-inch Vickers machine guns5 x 20-barrel Unrotated Projectile mounts2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes Aircraft (after 1931) 1 aircraft using 1 catapult (1929-1932) HMS Hood - Design Construction: Laid down at John Brown Company of Clydebank on September 1, 1916, HMS Hood was an Admiral-class battlecruiser. This design originated as an improved version of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships but was converted early on to a battlecruiser to replace losses sustained at the Battle of Jutland and to counter new German battlecruiser construction. Originally intended as a four-ship class, work on three was halted due to other priorities during World War I. As a result, Hood was the only Admiral-class battlecruiser to be completed. The new ship entered the water on August 22, 1918, and was named for Admiral Samuel Hood. Work continued over the next two years and the ship entered commission on May 15, 1920. A sleek, attractive ship, Hoods design was centered on a battery of eight 15 guns mounted in four twin turrets. These were initially supplemented by twelve 5.5 guns and four 1 guns. Over the course of its career, Hoods secondary armament was enlarged and altered to meet the needs of the day. Capable of 31 knots in 1920, some considered Hood to be a fast battleship rather than a battlecruiser. HMS Hood - Armor: For protection, Hood originally possessed a similar armor scheme to its predecessors except that its armor was angled outward to increase its relative thickness against shells fired on a low trajectory. In the wake of Jutland, the new ships armor design was thickened though this enhancement added 5,100 tons and reduced the ships top speed. More troublesome, its deck armor remained thin making it vulnerable to plunging fire. In this area, the armor was spread over three decks with the thought that an exploding shell might breach the first deck but would not have the energy to pierce the next two. Though this scheme seemed workable, advances in effective time-delay shells negated this approach as they would penetrate all three decks before exploding. In 1919, testing showed the Hoods armor configuration was flawed and plans were made to thicken the deck protection over key areas of the vessel. After further trials, this additional armor was not added. Protection against torpedoes was provided by a 7.5 deep anti-torpedo bulge which ran nearly the length of the ship. Though not fitted with a catapult, Hood did possess fly off platforms for aircraft atop its B and X turrets. HMS Hood - Operational History: Entering service, Hood was made flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Roger Keyes Battlecruiser Squadron based at Scapa Flow. Later that year, the ship steamed to the Baltic as a deterrent against the Bolsheviks. Returning, Hood spent the next two years in home waters and training in the Mediterranean. In 1923, it accompanied HMS Repulse and several light cruisers on a world cruise. Returning in late 1924, Hood continued in a peacetime role until entering the yard in on May 1, 1929 for a major overhaul. Emerging on March 10, 1931, the ship rejoined the fleet and now possessed an aircraft catapult. In September of that year, Hoods crew was one of many which took part in the Invergordon Mutiny over the reduction of seamans wages. This ended peacefully and the next year saw the battlecruiser travel to the Caribbean. During this voyage the new catapult proved troublesome and it was later removed. Over the next seven years, Hood saw extensive service in European waters as the Royal Navys premier fast capital ship. As the decade neared an end, the ship was due for a major overhaul and modernization similar to those given other World War I-era warships in the Royal Navy. HMS Hood - World War II: Though its machinery was deteriorating, Hoods overhaul was postponed due to the beginning of World War II in September 1939. Hit that month by an aerial bomb, the ship sustained minor damage and soon was employed in the North Atlantic on patrol duties. With the fall of France in mid-1940, Hood was ordered to the Mediterranean and became flagship of Force H. Concerned that the French fleet would fall into German hands, the Admiralty demanded that the French Navy either join with them or stand down. When this ultimatum was refused, Force H attacked the French squadron at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria on July 8. In the attack, the bulk of the French squadron was put out of action. HMS Hood - Denmark Strait: Returning to the Home Fleet in August, Hood sortied that fall in operations intended to intercept the pocket battleship and heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. In January 1941, Hood entered the yard for a minor refit, but the naval situation prevented the major overhaul that was needed. Emerging, Hood remained in increasingly poor condition. After patrolling the Bay of Biscay, the battlecruiser was ordered north in late April after the Admiralty learned that the new German battleship Bismarck had sailed. Putting into Scapa Flow on May 6, Hood departed later that month with the new battleship HMS Prince of Wales to pursue Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. Commanded by Vice Admiral Lancelot Holland, this force located the two German ships on May 23. Attacking the next morning, Hood and Prince of Wales opened the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Engaging the enemy, Hood quickly came under fire and took hits. Approximately eight minutes after the action began, the battlecruiser was hit around the boat deck. Witnesses saw a jet of flame emerge near the mainmast before the ship exploded. Most likely the result of a plunging shot which penetrated the thin deck armor and struck a magazine, the explosion broke Hood in two. Sinking in around three minutes, only three of the ships 1,418-man crew were rescued. Outnumbered, Prince of Wales withdrew from the fight. In the wake of the sinking, many explanations were put forward for the explosion. Recent surveys of the wreck confirm that Hoods after magazines did explode. Selected Sources HMS Hood AssociationPBS: Hunt for the HoodU-boat.net: HMS Hood