The impact resistance of single curvature semi-cylindrical shell targets of aluminum 1100-H12 was explored against hard steel cylindrical projectiles. Experimental as well as numerical investigations were carried out to observe the performance of shell targets against ogive, conical, blunt and hemispherical nosed projectiles. Effect of oblique impact was studied on the ballistic performance of the shell targets at 0 (normal), 15 and 30° obliquity. Further, the impact performance of 2 mm thick monolithic and in-contact layered targets of equivalent thickness was evaluated and compared. The projectiles were driven by a pneumatic air gun and the projectile flight path was captured with a high-speed camera. The experimental results obtained in terms of incidence and residual velocities, and deformation profile of the targets, were validated with the numerical analyses conducted in ABAQUS/Explicit solver. Johnson-Cook constitutive strength and damage material model was employed to simulate the deformation and damage evolution in the targets. The ballistic performance of both monolithic and layered targets impacted at oblique incidence, was compared in terms of ballistic limits, failure mechanisms, local and global plastic deformations and plastic strain energy absorbed in radial, circumferential, axial and shear deformation modes. The in-contact layered shell targets exhibited significantly higher impact resistance than the monolithic targets against all projectiles. Target configurations impacted at oblique incidence with conical and ogive nosed projectiles showed increase in global deformation, while, opposite behaviour was observed in case of blunt and hemispherical nosed projectiles. The plastic strain energy absorbed in various deformation modes correlated with the failure patterns observed in the target material during ballistic impact.