Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:37:47-2:38:14

The promise and complexity of spaced sloped armour

Two separated inclined armour layers could offer useful protection, but integrating them into a ship would demand substantial design work rather than a simple thickness substitution.

BallisticsNaval ArchitectureSpaced ArmourWarship ArmourWarship Design
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Question

Could two separated eight-inch armour layers work better than one solid belt?

Short answer

Possibly, especially with both layers angled, but the arrangement would require extensive design work to make practical.

Notes

Two armour layers separated by space could be useful, especially if both plates were angled. The void and inclination would change the path a projectile or blast must follow before reaching the protected interior. The arrangement would be difficult to integrate into a practical ship, so the concept remains an engineering trade rather than a free way to double protection.