 The two ships were protected by iron belt armor that was 8 @.@ 7 in ( 221 mm ) thick and extended for the entire length of the hull . The casemates were protected with 5 @.@ 5 in ( 140 mm ) of iron plating , and the small conning tower had 2 @.@ 4 in ( 61 mm ) thick iron plates . 
 The two ships <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> protected by iron belt armor <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>was 8 @.@ 7 in ( 221 mm ) thick and extended for the entire length of the hull . The casemates <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> protected with 5 @.@ 5 in ( 140 mm ) of iron plating , and the small conning tower had 2 @.@ 4 in ( 61 mm ) thick iron plates . 
The two ships was protected by iron belt armor was 8 @.@ 7 in ( 221 mm ) thick and extended for the entire length of the hull . da casemates was protected with 5 @.@ 5 in ( 140 mm ) of iron plating , and tdasmall conning tower had 2 @.@ 4 in ( 61 mm ) thick iron plates .