How would an all-or-nothing battleship react to a 4,850-pound 21-inch shell?
Short answerA hit outside the citadel could rip away unarmored structure, while a hit on armor might shatter the plate and leave a later strike to penetrate; range and impact angle remain decisive.
NotesUnarmored ends are expendable in an all-or-nothing scheme, although the shell's kinetic energy may tear away structure even if its fuse does not function before exit. Against the belt or deck, the result depends on geometry and range, and one massive hit may compromise protection for the next rather than immediately destroy the ship.