User blog comment:FlammeumDraco333/Tales From the Not so Blocky Seas/@comment-27822411-20150802105318/@comment-10905876-20150802225336

Haven't tried the 12" guns on Kongo, but they'd probably be ok, for cruisers. But you really want the big 14s so that battleships don't murder you.

As for armor, when you get your own, use the advanced armor and max out your amidships belt and deck. That's where you get the most hits, and will be crucial in surviving a confrontation with larger warships. Then add whatever seems to be a good balance for the rest of the ship, and call it good. Also, I wouldn't bother with a secondary battery, they only add extra weight, and don't work very well at long range.