A protected-deck alternative for Imperieuse

A viewer argues that the narrow belts fitted to many armoured ships could sit too low in the water to provide reliable protection. The proposed Imperieuse redesign replaces the belt with a sloped armoured deck over the engines and magazines, with flat protected ends below the waterline and subdivision above. Armour would instead be concentrated on the barbettes, gun shields, and ammunition tubes. The battery would combine two single 8-inch guns amidships with twin 8-inch mountings fore and aft, plus eight 5-inch guns in broadside positions. The arrangement is presented as an interesting design counterproposal rather than a description of the actual class.