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Personally, I would go with the 5x2 version because it is different. I should note that the RAN's doctrine is actually to force surface engagements against enemy carrier forces.
Well so far in WW the only major carrier vs surface action ended in the carrier being sunk by a battlecruiser. Australia sees carriers as support ships, their job is to protect your own ships from enemy carriers and blind the enemy by taking out their scouts, allowing the surface ships to close and destroy the enemy carriers. Will it work? As far as the Australians know it has.
I disagree with the suggestion that task force screening and independent operations are mutually exclusive, though I do agree that the screening role calls for a good antiaircraft suite and the fire control to match. I also adhere to the school that believes that hostile surface forces are not going to deliberately seek out and engage major carrier task forces, except in extreme cases (in which category I place the Battle off Samar). Therefore, I feel either of the 6-inch gun vessels is preferable to the 8.1-inch option.
A single vessel is not in a position to defend a far-flung base from hostile forces - a single vessel is not in a position to do much except show the flag. Therefore, I feel putting too much tonnage into a secondary role (which I consider trade protection to be) is wasteful. Of the three options, I would choose the 11,200 ton vessel with eight 150mm automatics. I could even accept such weapons as being DP, given the timeframe we are discussing, though I have reservations on automatic guns of any larger caliber.
This said, it is my opinion.
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