@ plawolf, yes, I saw your post #97, I must have forgotten about it.
Having thought about it, your idea of using hard armour might have an interesting twist.
Most modern AShMs are designed with a delay fuse warhead so the warhead detonates inside the target ship for maximum effect.
I wonder, what would happen if the missile hit a solid, unyielding block of steel thicker than its kinetic force alone could penetrate?
If that happens, I think there is a fair to high chance the missile would literally dash itself to pieces against the armour and its warhead not detonate at all.
Now, obviously a simply duel charge warhead would easily counter that, but that would take up additional weight and space, making enemy missiles larger and/or making their warheads smaller. Since more and more navies are switching to VLS launched missiles, the later seems more likely, which should increase the survivability of ships when hit.
In addition, if you up armoured your new warships in secret, and no one else knew, they would fire old school, unity warhead missiles that will be largely ineffective against your ships' armour packages.