The fictional Vondetan's belt is described as 100 to 250 cm thick, compared with about 254 cm on the Valiant. Its thinner sections complicate a comparison based only on maximum thickness. Everest illustrates the argument that compartmentation lets a ship lose material to a plasma torpedo without necessarily losing a critical system. An objection is that Everest's exceptional performance benefits from plot armour and may be a poor guide to ordinary ships. The Vondetan's relationship to the Valiant is also disputed: the distinction eventually drawn is between belonging to the same design lineage and being a direct derivative. The Vondetan's reported wartime losses support the criticism of its balance between firepower and survivability.
Notable Point · 18:17-25:00
Armor thickness versus compartmentation in Halo warships
The Vondetan's uneven armour and disputed relationship to the Valiant raise questions about internal protection, while Everest's exceptional feats complicate the comparison.