armoured cruiser

An armoured cruiser was a type of warship developed in the late 19th century. It was characterized by its large size, high speed, and significant armament, making it capable of both defending its own fleet and threatening enemy forces. Unlike protected cruisers that only had armour on their decks, armoured cruisers also featured armour along the sides of their hull. This made them powerful vessels, though they were smaller than battleships. Armoured cruisers were designed for commerce protection, raiding, and to support the main battle line. They were considered capable of fighting any ship that could catch them and outrunning battleships.