The effect of voids on the transverse mechanical behavior was investigated for unidirectional resin transfer molded laminates of glass fiber fabric/vinylester. Laminates with the highest average content of voids had a transverse strain to failure as high as 2 percent whereas low void content laminates failed at 0.3 percent. Only a few large and well-defined transverse cracks formed in low void content laminates before final failure. Multiple transverse cracks with irregular shape as well as numerous smaller cracks formed in the high void content laminates. A simple model was developed in order to explain the high strain to failure of high void content laminates