As the firing geometry changes, incoming shells see more deck than hull and strike at an angle unfavorable to the deck armour, described here as the equivalent of plunging fire. The focus then moves from protection to command responsibility. With almost no floatability or structure remaining, continued resistance only endangers the crew. Heavy flooding finally sinks the ship, bringing together terminal ballistics and the human decision to stop fighting.
Notable Point · 2:36:57-2:40:30
Plunging fire and the point to abandon ship
The final salvos expose the battleship's deck, followed by an argument that a captain should abandon or surrender a ship that can no longer fight.