Talk:Belt armor

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[edit] Accuracy disputed

"Belt armor is a layer of armor-plating outside the armored hull of a battleships, armored cruisers and early aircraft carriers, typically about five feet away."

Belt armor is the hull armor. It makes no sense to speak of it being "outside" the armored hull. Furthermore, there were a few ships (such as the Iowas) that had an internal armor belt.

Five feet away from what?

"hen struck by a shell or torpedo, the belt armor triggers the fuse and detonates the device before it can penetrate or seriously damage the main hull, protecting the integrity of the ship."

Not a terribly accurate description of how armor works. Designers of armor-piercing shells expected the shell be triggered by impact with armor plate. The fuses were designed to have a slight delay to allow time for penetration. The point of the armor plate was to prevent penetration regardless of when the shell's fuse went off. The plate might stop the shell cold, or it could shatter or deflect the shell.

"The air-space between the belt and the hull also adds buoyancy."

I think you may be confusing the armor belt and the anti-torpedo bulges. The latter were typically outside the armor belt.