A protected cruiser is a type of warship that was developed in the late 19th century. It is characterized by a protective deck that is sloped down at the sides, providing protection for the ship's machinery and crew from enemy fire. This type of cruiser was a significant improvement over earlier designs, which had a flat deck that was more vulnerable to enemy fire.
Protected cruisers were typically armed with a variety of guns, including large-caliber guns for engaging enemy warships and smaller guns for defending against torpedo boats and other small craft. They were also equipped with torpedo tubes for launching torpedoes at enemy ships.