HMS Sheffield, Vancouver Harbour, 1930s. NOTE: There is no record of the HMS Sheffield ever visiting Canada. This may be another ship. Nevertheless, the Battlecruiser HMS Repulse and HMS Hood (at the time, she was the largest ship in the British Navy) entered Vancouver harbour on 25 June, 1924. In 1923 - 1924, HMS Hood and the Special Service Squadron sailed around the world on The Empire Cruise, visiting many ports of call in the countries which had fought together during the First World War. The Squadron departed Devonport on 27 November 1923 and headed for Sierra Leone.The fleet would separate at various points of the cruise with the battleships passing through the Panama Canal, while some destroyers carried around Cape Horn. Ships involved: HMS Hood (Captain John Kim Thurm) HMS Repulse (Captain Henry Parker) Light cruisers under Rear Admiral Sir Hubert Brand HMS Delhi (Captain J. Pipon) HMS Danae (Captain F. Austin) HMS Dragon (Captain B. Fairbairn) HMS Dauntless (Captain C. Round-Turner) HMAS Adelaide