>I actually think that torpedoes are the only things where that is relevant, as
>it were. Improved guns usually require higher levels of hull as well, and
>can't be mounted on lower levels, and there is no reason to down-grade from
>better engines and gun control, if you have them.

>Well, you could mount lower guns on a better hull, I suppose, and might have a reason to...ah, well.

There's one ship where going down in guns is definitely a possibility- the Mogami. She can be upgraded to the standard IJN 8" guns, or you can leave her / downgrade her with the stock 6" guns, at which point you have a Japanese Cleveland, and you can start paying US drivers back for the pelting you've been taking for the last 4 tiers.

As a sidenote, I'm now imagining the Cleveland in KanColle, as a snot-nosed kid with a slingshot.
"This is probably a stupid question, but . . ."