 Tsesarevich used the latest Krupp armor in a version of the French cellular armor scheme . This consisted of a full @-@ length waterline armoured belt with armored decks above and below . Behind the belt were well @-@ subdivided compartments mostly used to store coal . This was intended to keep the ship afloat regardless of the damage inflicted above the upper armoured deck . The waterline armor belt was 2 metres ( 6 ft 7 in ) high , with 1 @.@ 5 metres ( 4 ft 11 in ) below the waterline at normal load . It had a maximum thickness of 250 millimetres ( 9 @.@ 8 in ) for a length of 60 metres ( 196 ft 10 in ) amidships which gradually reduced to a thickness of 180 millimetres ( 7 @.@ 1 in ) at the bow and 170 millimetres ( 6 @.@ 7 in ) at the stern . The belt tapered to a thickness of 170 millimetres at its bottom edge amidships and presumably tapered proportionally along its length . Above the waterline belt was an upper strake of armour that was 1 @.@ 67 metres ( 5 ft 6 in ) high and had a maximum thickness of 200 millimetres ( 7 @.@ 9 in ) . It was slightly shorter than the waterline belt and similarly reduced in thickness towards the ends of the ship . Forward it consisted of 120 @-@ millimetre ( 4 @.@ 7 in ) armour plates and 130 millimetres ( 5 @.@ 1 in ) aft . 
