Q&A ยท 1:38:37-1:38:57

What separates a bulkhead from armour?

A short technical answer distinguishes structures designed to contain water from plates designed to defeat weapons.

Question

What is the difference between a bulkhead and armour?

Short answer

Bulkheads are designed chiefly to contain water pressure, while armour is designed to resist weapon impacts and is usually far thicker.

Notes

A watertight bulkhead must withstand hydrostatic pressure and preserve the boundary of a compartment. Armour has to resist a specified level of hostile fire and is therefore normally much thicker and heavier. The two can both contribute to structural strength, but they are sized for different loads and failure modes. This distinction prevents the damage-control discussion from treating every strong internal plate as armour.