I'm on patrol with USS cleavland now... I must say she is a quick ship... crappy range though.. And if your gunners are rubbish you are... buggered. 2 destroyers can overwhelm you if you don't make quick hits! even turning to bear your guns still doesnt help :/
I guess i need to get used to it... I was always deadly with the deckgun on the VIIC and XI. I could take out flower corvettes, V&W's and clemson destroyers with the 105 on the XI. clemsons and FC's only with the 88 on the VIIB/C. I once got a V&W but that was a fluke, he tried to ram me and nailed one of the merchants he was escorting so i went to the other side of the merch and pounded em both till they detonated