LvL CV crew too by the time you get it to 120 you should have enough credits ..

In my opinion, obtaining the 6.5's is a far less of a hassle than trying to get 50 million credits and 20 million points. It's already a hassle enough without the trade system which honestly was still dumb to disable. They can re-enable it but they don't want to. Anyway, the 6.5's are just a better option. They will cost you some money but in the end, it's a far easier option. The only other thing to gain credits is by playing CVs. I only have 2 6.5s which is my Clemanceau and my Thunderer. I've had the Nebby, QV, etc for a long while as well as my Amagi. But I didn't have the Charlemange before I quit playing a few years ago. 

rover, may i mention a new ship at lvl 110 called the illinois. triple turrets along the NC/Iowa style(missouri also), whereas Cali has montana style turrets.

 not sure, but the guns should be very similar. components does not show a lvl 115 gun for usa, but i bet there would be a similar triple for Illinois. sadly, both their montana engines produce slow movers, very different from the nebbie engined Missouri at lvl 99.(287 v. 353 and horsepower).  

Illinois is only slightly lighter than Cali.  might be much easier to buy a New Jersey, similar to Nebbie, but actually the most durability of all USN 120s.  

Oklahoma at lvl 120 is Montana style  with the better hp nebby engine and actually outranges both the other 120s slightly gunwise.  

50/20 mill for a 120 has always struck me as ridiculous with the other 120 options....for each nation except China(so far) and all the Cali series ships are turtle slow , but the MN one seems to be a tad faster.   i'd just Aw the pokie ones if i used them.

Well, mission #1 complete, US all crew lvl 125, 9 weeks of grind