 The forward end of the armored citadel was closed off by a thick transverse bulkhead on the forward end and aft.The deck armor in the citadel ranged in thickness, from for the upper deck, a middle deck—increased to over the handling rooms for the gun turrets—and a lower splinter deck of , which increased outboard to .The waterline forward of the citadel was protected by a splinter belt all the way to the bow, with a similar extension aft to the steering gear compartment.