Warrior's protection combined wrought iron and teak. Three overlapping layers of iron formed a 4.5-inch belt backed by 18 inches of teak arranged in crossed layers. The teak caught fragments, spread impact energy, and reduced the chance that the armor fastenings would fail. The belt covered the central 213 feet and extended 16 feet above and six feet below the waterline. Transverse bulkheads shielded the gun deck from raking fire. The unarmored bow and stern relied on watertight subdivision, while large internal openings provided access and ventilation. These competing needs show why subdivision remained incomplete even as designers concentrated protection around an armored fighting core.
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Composite armor and citadel design
Warrior's overlapping wrought iron and teak formed an armored citadel that resisted shot, limited spalling, and protected the fighting core.