The "last salvo" of HMS Hood was likely a final, unintentional firing from its forward guns caused by the magazine explosion as the ship was sinking, rather than a deliberate act of defiance. Evidence from eyewitness accounts and inquiries suggests the explosion triggered a chain reaction that fired the 15-inch guns already loaded. While this has been interpreted as a final defiant act, the more plausible explanation is that the ship's destruction caused the guns to fire as it went down. Eyewitn

Incredible Onboard View of Barge Sinking in the Ocean