Deck guns, front or back?
 

How were the US boats historically laid out with regard to deck guns? Were they always on the aft deck, or more on the front? Or was it a skipper's personal choice?

I like mine on the front personally, but must admit I had a running battle with a minesweeper yesterday, which I barely won because of my rear-firing deck gun.

Personal choice mainly. From what I've read, they were mainly used as a weapon of last resort in most cases. As time went by, rear facing deck guns were preferred as you could be firing aft at anything chasing you as you boogie away.