User blog comment:FlammeumDraco333/Tales From the Not so Blocky Seas/@comment-13740085-20160218162727/@comment-24903406-20160218191621

Guy, it depends on which nation you want to build up a buttload of REXP for. Since you posted that you have upgraded to the Gangut, I suggest you get the Arkhangelsk for building up Soviet REXP to skip the IM.

Or you could get the B65 to farm Japanese REXP for partially skipping the Ise. Same goes for the Iron Duke and British REXP. It depends on what nation you're working on, IMO. Unless you are a ship collector (like me) and want to buy a ship for the fun of it. But I use mine as REXP farmers for skipping and making grinds easier on me (plus farming silver, these things make a ton of silver aswell.)