In this account, dreadnought armoured cruisers and battleships sit along a spectrum of speed, subdivision, and armour coverage. Ships in the same navy and building year might use identical guns and have the same maximum belt thickness. That comparison leaves out how far the belt extends along the hull, how deep it reaches, and what protection lies below it. Greater subdivision also supports a more extensive armour arrangement. A battlecruiser and a fast battleship can therefore share headline gun and belt figures while protecting very different proportions of the ship.
Notable Point · 20:02-21:31
Why equal belt thickness does not mean equal protection
Belt depth, length, and subdivision explain differences that a simple comparison of gun calibre and maximum armour thickness misses.