User blog comment:FlammeumDraco333/Tales From the Not so Blocky Seas/@comment-26482266-20160217050255/@comment-10905876-20160219152721

Flamme, you keep forgetting the main issue that everyone has with these Jerry cruisers. The gun layout is horrible! Even though most battles are fought broadside to broadside, people still seem to like decent frontal firepower. For example, you need to close the range fast with an enemy to get them in shooting range. The typical choice for closing is to turn your bow at them at full speed, but depending on angling, you'll likely only have a measly third of your firepower available.

As for the Emerald class cruiser, have you tried maxing armor on her? Combining say, the 9.2" guns with max armor actually results in a trollishly armored ship with excellent firepower. Essentially, you can turn her in to a miniaturized dreadnought battleship. Of the British cruisers, she's one of the better ones. (One of two decent Brit cruisers, the Dido is quite fun too)