Armor-piercing ammunition gains an advantage from penetration, while high explosive works through cumulative damage. Radar, anti-aircraft weapons, bridge structures, and exposed personnel remain vulnerable even when the main belt holds. Repeated large-caliber impacts transmit energy into the armor, shake its supports, and can eventually crack protection that survived the first hit. Against cruisers, battleship-caliber high explosive can be devastating outright, allowing scarce armor-piercing shells to be reserved for enemy battleships.
Notable Point · 4:00:39-4:10:46
How repeated high-explosive hits defeat armored ships
Armor does not make high-explosive fire harmless: blast strips exposed systems, injures crews, and repeated impacts can crack protection or overwhelm lighter ships.