Personally like to play mine with the Nelson trips. 40 knots OH still and awesome firepower due to the improved spread because of the BB2 FCS. Just play it like a BB3 and you should get decent games most of the time.
They lack the range to go toe to toe with other BB4's but if you can get into range to squeeze off a shot it's often enough to cripple or kill one.

There are two ways to play Vanguard. However, always remember that you are constantly being ranged by someone, so do not play too aggressively early on. By early on, I mean before premium ends.

First, as people have mentioned, use the duals (I believe they're the RP12s), and play Van like a KM ship. Try to pick off BB3 or below. Either move in range, broadside them, then move out of range, and repeat. Or, move in range, fire front guns, turn out, fire rear guns, and repeat. If the target starts to move away, then assess your/its surroundings to make sure no other BB can hit you, and then decide whether to chase the target.

Second, equip your Van with the heavy hitting trips that the Nelson uses (I can't remember which set). This setup makes you extremely slow and barely armorable. However, each salvo will rake in quite a bit of attack for you, assuming you didn't miss. With this setup, I recommend picking off smaller ships if you can, or sneaking up on bigger ships while they aren't looking or engaging other BBs. Remember, do not be too aggressive. While it is always good to sink someone, it is better to stay alive.

With that said, I would recommend leveling your other BO to L1, and play that instead. AW 2 gun L1 is probably the most player-friendly BB4 in the game. On the other hand, Van became a failed BB concept when whiners coerced SDE into making Van a BB4 without proper balancing. Getting back on topic, the L1 guns are considerably more accurate than the Van guns, while also packing a heavier punch. Thus, if you have the spare time and the patience, go L1.

if its true that it was moved to bb4 without proper adjustments, then when will they fix it? haven't seen a single topic about fixing it in the test server area,

I've been using it with the Nelly's trips, they are fun if you can get in range and will either cripple or just sink them in one hit, or scare em off the front lines,

vanny and l1 are playable

but if your gunner and your crew are lv 91-99 , i prefer lion1

the vanguard is a broadside ship hence the two fore and two aft gun placements. trying to chase or run will result in bad aiming and not all your shots hitting home.

instead try the sling shot method.

move in once at range turn away, once your ship is about to hit the virticle faceong posistion fire all guns but allow your ship to keep turning away.

this doesnt give you more range but it does make you a little harder to be hit your self, then simply keep repeating over and over. if ou do start to take hits retreat rep up and do it again.

your a victim of the uk line. it is has the shortest ranged guns overall meaning you have to take a risk to get a shot off and hit a target. until they fix the obvious lack of range on uk bb's youll just have to persevere. im also in a bb4 but im useing the lion 1. it too has crap range but its a little faster and has a bit more armour due to the loss of the 4th gun. i too struggle to get 100k games some times i find it hard to get 40k games.

uk ships are just outmatched on all fronts.

although things do start to improve once your in your lion 2 not many people use bb5's or bb6's so there is only ever 2-3 per team in a gb room that means your at the top of the peking order.

many bb5 and bb6 players will argue this but its true none the less. they only do so well because they ar ein bb5 and bb6's any one doing well in a bb4 and below is what i called talented.

the game is a level game. the higher level you are the more fun your going to have.