Armour thickness differs from how completely it protects a ship and from the subdivision that contains flooding. A traditional battleship accepts weight and reduced speed in exchange for broad protection and the ability to remain in the line under repeated fire. A battlecruiser gives up coverage and structural density for maneuver, while a fast battleship retains battleship-grade protection with some reduction in coverage and subdivision to gain speed. Queen Elizabeth and Tiger approach that combination from the battleship and battlecruiser ends of the spectrum. Hood remains a ship intended for a maneuver fight despite later armour additions. The Italian Francesco Caracciolo class combines battleship-grade protection with 28-knot speed, establishing the fast-battleship benchmark in this scenario.
Chapter · 1:21:14-1:29:20
Battleship armor coverage versus battlecruiser speed
Armor coverage, subdivision, and tactical role place battleships, fast battleships, and battlecruisers on a spectrum rather than in two simple categories.