The interlaminar stresses in laminated composite cylindrical shell strips under dynamic transverse loading are studied here within the purview of a first order shear deformation theory. The dynamic equations of equilibrium are solved by a combination of Navier’s approach and a Laplace transform technique. The dynamic magnification factor (i.e., the ratio of the maximum dynamic value to the static value) is calculated for the stresses and deflections for various types of loading and for different values of the geometric parameters. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.