However, the continuing advances of larger caliber guns, greater muzzle velocities, more accurate fire at longer ranges, and more energetic explosive fills of the shells demanded drastic improvements in armor protection. Some means had to be found to integrate armor protection into the total design of the warship at its inception. The rational application of armor had to achieve the most efficient use of the hull's displacement to provide buoyancy to the deadweight of the ship's armor. "All or nothing" was the design solution.