[Mark Walton]

Could the way damage is handled just change slightly to (not real code of couse)

Damage -= shields;
Damage -= armour;
If ((Damage + Retained_Damage) >= component.structure)
{
component.destroyed;
Retained_Damage -= (component.structure - Damage); // not less than 0 of course!
}
else
{
Retained_Damage += Damage
}


So, retained damage is never added to the damage score as such; it just waits until there is enough of it, when added to current damage, to actually destroy a component.