The class protected important pipe runs with about 50 mm of armour. Steering and tiller compartments received 100 mm walls and 50 mm overhead protection, reducing the chance that one hit would disable control of the ship. German experience informed this attention to vulnerable systems. Reports also suggest that two sisters may have reached about 33.1 knots rather than the nominal 32.5 knots. These details add battle-damage resilience and measured performance to the more familiar list of guns, belt armour, and range.
Notable Point · 48:10-49:01
Protected piping and steering gear reveal attention to battle damage
Armoured pipe runs, heavily protected steering spaces, and reports of slightly higher-than-designed speed add detail to Sverdlov survivability and performance.