The conflict reinforced the importance of armored hulls and armor capable of resisting penetrating shells. Those combat lessons fed into the later development of improved nickel steel, Harvey armor, and Krupp cemented armor, with the Spanish-American War adding further impetus. Rapid-fire guns could attack torpedo boats, but an underwater weapon offered little warning and demanded other defenses. More bulkheads, longitudinal subdivision, and double hulls improved survivability at the cost of added weight, expense, and architectural complexity.
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Armour and survivability lessons from the war
The war highlighted the value of armor against penetrating shells and the need for compartmentation and underwater protection against torpedo attack.