▁at ▁normal ▁operating ▁volt ages , ▁the ▁direct ▁current ▁components ▁often ▁caused ▁ar cing ▁and ▁the ▁mechanical ▁components ▁wore ▁out ▁more ▁quickly ▁than ▁anticip ated . ▁In ▁addition ▁the ▁system ▁was ▁not ▁water ▁resist ant ▁and ▁often ▁mal function ed ▁when ▁water ▁entered ▁the ▁tur rets , ▁a ▁not ▁un common ▁occurrence . ▁It ▁was ▁replaced ▁by ▁a ▁more ▁reliable ▁system ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 5 . ▁ ▁The ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁Am iral ▁Char ner ▁class ▁was ▁generally ▁protected ▁by ▁ ▁of ▁steel ▁arm or , ▁from ▁ ▁below ▁the ▁water line ▁to ▁ ▁above ▁it . ▁The ▁bottom ▁ ▁t aper ed ▁in ▁thick ness ▁and ▁the ▁arm or ▁at ▁the ▁ends ▁of ▁the ▁ships ▁th inned ▁to ▁. ▁The ▁cur ved ▁protect ive ▁deck ▁of ▁m ild ▁steel ▁had ▁a ▁thick ness ▁of ▁ ▁along ▁its ▁center line ▁that ▁increased ▁to ▁ ▁at ▁its ▁outer ▁edges . ▁Prote ct ing ▁the ▁bo iler ▁rooms , ▁engine ▁rooms , ▁and ▁mag az ines ▁below ▁it ▁was ▁a ▁thin ▁spl inter ▁deck . ▁A ▁wat ert ight ▁internal ▁c of fer dam , ▁filled ▁with ▁cell ul ose , ▁ran ▁the ▁length ▁of ▁the ▁ship ▁from ▁the ▁protect ive ▁deck ▁to ▁a ▁height ▁of ▁ ▁above ▁the ▁water line . ▁Below ▁the ▁protect ive ▁deck ▁the ▁ship ▁was ▁divided ▁by ▁ 1 3 ▁wat ert ight ▁trans verse ▁bulk head s , ▁with ▁five ▁more ▁above ▁it . ▁The ▁ship ' s ▁con ning ▁tower ▁and ▁tur rets ▁were ▁protected ▁by