Abstract: A method of producing steel armor plate having improved resistance to penetration by projectiles. The armor plate provides for intended inclusions, generally elliptically shaped, in the steel oriented substantially parallel to the plate surface. Those inclusions result from at least one element of the steel composition selected from the group of sulfur and oxygen. The steel armor plate may be useful with an increased inclusion level on the front approximately one-half portion of the dual hardness composite steel armor plate so as to spread out the force of the impact over a wider area.