I use:
My setup (mostly play All Welcome games)

Mk14N with 4 binds normal HE/1 bind AP
5"/38 Mk 38 AA guns with 6 binds AAA/2 binds Hvy HE (for pesky humping DD's)
CA2 Aiming FCS
CA2 Heavy engine
1.0" deck
0.7" belt
14 bulge
12 bulkhead
This is with all 9 sailor slots filled with Lvl 43-54 sailors, all full crew.

Cost: about 1.1 mill

mk 14 L is the best. and get some aa guns

why would you use a DD engine in a CA....

might work in regular games but not in CL/CA -.-

speed matters

Baltimore

mark 14 8'' L
DDIII engine
.5 or less belt, the rest deck


chariot

AP is good for Repulse and above BC's, BB's, New Orleans, and County...not enough
reason for me to carry AP and limit my HE loadout, which is more useful since it does
more damage to everything except those ships... 1 bind of AP i don't think is enough
either. so i go with all HE.

but otherwise 3 HE/2 AP works.

id get a few binds of ap ammo

~1.3 million to armor for CL/CA, no AA guns. regular game setup will cost less (less
deck, more belt/bulge)

mk14L, 5 binds light HE
SON-1 seagull/Dauntless recon for CL/CA, J2F duck for regular games

don't play BB games

it's close to a mil to fully armor your balt if you play cl/ca games since you are mostly
putting on deck. i used the 8 L's on my balt i find it to be the best gun all around. you
can put the rf guns when you reach level 50 but it weighs a lot.

I think you need more than that, I had 1.2 million credits after selling my brooklyn, and
I could barely get any armor on hte thing. I had like 1" of armor on it.

Sold it and went to try out cleveland.


As for setup, 90% deck, 10% belt. Bulgei s not needed since you'll usually just play in
CL/CA/BB games.

im about to get one (30k away yay) its about 1.4 million to FULLY arm/armor it. use the
Mark 14L's triples mainly if ur planning on cl/ca games do most on deck and a little on belt.
CA Fcs, CA engine. if ya do all games make sure u trade some deck for more belt and bulge
and if u want u can put aa gunson but id save the space for armor