 Armor protection consisted of iron plate; the armored belt had a maximum thickness of in the central portion of the ship, where it protected machinery and ammunition magazines, and was reduced on either end, first to and then to 76 mm.The thickest part of the belt extended below the waterline and above the line, and was composed of three strakes.The middle strake was the thickest, the upper strake was reduced slightly to , and the lower one was and tapered to .