Why an armor belt buys time rather than invulnerability

Can a 14-inch gun penetrate most battleship belts at normal battle ranges?

Its performance is broadly comparable to other heavy guns; repeated hits can crack, buckle, and defeat armor that resists the first impact.

Penetration depends on shell, range, and impact point, but a belt damaged by one heavy hit is less able to resist the next. Cumulative structural and metallurgical damage matters most when ships of comparable class exchange fire.