Belt armor
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Belt armor is a layer of armor-plating outside the armored hull of a battleships, typically about five feet away. When struck by a shell or torpedo, the belt armor triggers the fuze and detonates the device before it can penetrate or seriously damage the main hull, protecting the integrity of the ship. Spaced armor is used in combat vehicles for the same purpose.
The air-space between the belt and the hull also adds buoyancy. Several wartime vessels had belt armor that was thinner or shallower than was desirable, to speed production and conserve resources.
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