The Admiral class refers to a group of four battlecruisers of the Royal Navy that were developed during World War I to counterbalance the German Mackensen class, which was being built at the same time. Originally, the class was to consist of the ships HMS Anson, HMS Howe, HMS Rodney, and HMS Hood. When the German naval leadership ordered a halt to the construction of the Mackensen class, a construction stop was also imposed on the British ships. Only the construction of HMS Hood had progressed far enough that it was decided to complete it. The Hood was subsequently deployed in World War II.