Editing County-class cruiser (section)

===Protection===
The initial design left little weight to distribute amongst protection. Thus, the traditional side-belt of armour was dispensed with and the {{convert|1|in|mm|adj=on}} side plating was sufficient to only give protection against shell splinters. A {{convert|1.25|in|mm|adj=on}} protective deck covered the machinery spaces and there were "box citadels" protecting the magazines and shell rooms; {{convert|2.5|in|mm|adj=on}} crowns and {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} sides, closed by 2.5-inch bulkheads. The aft box citadel had slightly reduced thicknesses at the ends and the citadel amidships had thinner armour as it lay within the confines of the armoured deck and side plating. There was a {{convert|1.5|in|mm|adj=on}} arch over the steering gear closed by a 1-inch-thick forward bulkhead. The turrets and barbettes received only thin splinter plating, as did the [[compass platform]]. There were external [[anti-torpedo bulge|bulges to provide torpedo protection]].