Usually a hole from a torpedo is very large, and will span two or more compartments. Compartmentation on a modern ship will contain outboard sections that are smaller, just to help isolate the damage. Here is an account of the damage to SS
Ohio, taken during Operation Pedestal, the supplying of Malta.
Quote:
The Ohio was torpedoed amidships, were a huge pillar of flame leapt high in the air above mast height. Ohio seemed to be out of control; Captain Mason ordered the engines to be shut down, with all deckhands available putting out the fire with the deck water-lines. Lighted kerosene was bubbling up from the fractured tanks, while little gouts of flame spattered the deck on to a distance of thirty yards from the blaze. Fortunately however, the flames were put out and the tanker managed thirteen knots after being repaired. The blast destroyed the ship's gyro and brought the magnetic compass off its bearings, while the steering gear was lost, forcing the crew to steer with the emergency gear from aft.
A hole, twenty-four feet by twenty-seven feet, had been torn in the port side of the amidships pump-room. The blast had also blown another hole in the starboard side and the compartment was flooded. There were jagged tears in the bulkheads and kerosene was bubbling up from adjoining tanks, seeping in a film up through the holes in the hull. The deck had been broken open, so that one could look down into the ship. From beam to beam the deck was buckled, but the ship held together.
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The whole story, including bomb hits and near misses (which also make holes in the hull, letting in more water) can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Ohio
Unfortunately my copies of Conway's
Warship series with pictures and descriptions of torpedo and shell hits are in storage at the moment, or I could give you a lot more information.