You're right to go with an Emerald - it's hands down the best AA ship the Royal Navy can muster.
It's got 9 slots (BO, Main Gunners, T-Gunners, Four Supports) can carry four scouts, and has two viable setups.
First off - never leave guns off. Yes, you've got the C and D turret which are weirdly positioned so they can only fire off one broadside, but if you leave them off, you've turned yourself into a fatter Sirius (that can turn slightly faster).
Primary Setup: Six Dual 5.25" Turrets - between QF and RP10, it comes down to personal choice (I'll detail that in the thread). You're guns are heavy, they are powerful, and you'll be able to order and receive a large pepperoni pizza with sardines and olives in the time it takes them to reload. If you've AA'd with any other nation, then FORGET everything you know about AAing tactics, 'cuz you're gonna learn them all over again. If you use L guns (and you should) then you'll have one of the shallowest (and thus largest and most forgiving) Golden Angles of any AA cruiser, and your shots will hit like a truck. Golden angles are 31 for L's, 32 for N's, and 36 for D's. I find that 33 actually works better for the L's, but experiment and you may find one that works best for you.
Lulz Setup: Six Pom-poms - it's great fun. Obviously a higher golden angle (Trainworld claims 51 to be it, but trainworld is dead wrong here - 46 works much much better) and weaker shells. Beautiful for downing bombers, but you have to remember to lead. If you don't lead properly, then you're just a waste of a CL slot.
More to come tomorrow.
~ Ferrard
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