The problem of initial damage in angle-ply [- θm/0n/θm] and [- θ/θ] ceramic matrix composites subjected to axial tension is considered in this paper. The damage is in the form of matrix cracks that may appear in either inclined (- θ and θ lamination angle) or longitudinal layers. As follows from the analysis, if the lamination angle of the inclined layers is small, the initial failure occurs in the 0-layers of [- θm/0n/θm] composites or in [- θ/θ] composites in the form of bridging cracks. However, if the inclined layers form a larger angle with the load direction, they fail due to tunneling cracks. It is shown that the boundary between two different modes of failure in a representative SiC/CAS composite corresponds to a lamination angle equal to 35° in the case of [- θm/0n/θm] composites. In the case of [- θ/θ] laminates, the boundary value of the lamination angle is equal to 45°, i.e. bridging cracks form if θ<45° and tunneling cracks appear if θ > 45°. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.