Support crew only really start to improve your soft defence when they get to their late 30's. Llevel 39 gunners will probably effect your soft defence more than a lower level support crew.

L Class Setup:

2x Dual 6"Ds (lvl 35 with quickest reload and lightest weight) and 4" belt

put the 2 turrets on the front of the ship and charge the enemy ship, this allows the smallest target possible for the enemy to shoot. So If they hit, it pops off 0's while ur shooting 300's.

hope this helps

blue87

My L is just the ship I take out on weekends and nice sunny days, so I am swapping crews off of other ships to run it.

Armament, 3x Twin 6/45Ds. 4 binds HHE.
Armor .3 in deck and 3.5 in belt. Small amounts of buldge and bulkhead, <5 tons on both.

I only run w/ a BO and 2 gunners. I have a lower level BO (my 2nd) and 2 lvl 39 gunners. Since my gunners weigh so much there is no room for anybody else. But oddly enough my soft defence rating is nearly the same as my Q with all the crew slots (with repairs/supports) filled out. My repair rate seems a bit slower than the Q, but it can take a few more hits. But can dish out a lot more damage per salvo. So I alter my tactics accordingly.

*nudge*

3 x dual 6" guns, full crew, no armor

As an AA ship (don't) - 3x2 5.25 D, second set.

As an anti-ship weapon, 3x2 6 L LV38, does the most damage.

As for armor, just get good repair crews on board and then armor max. At least 12 bulge/bulkhead and 1.5" of armor, if not MORE. Because armor = win

At my level best guns I can get is the dual 5.25" L so it is what I use, less armor and I try to stay at long range.