How did the Aoba class compare with HMS Exeter, and which ship came out ahead?
Short answerAoba is preferred for her speed and equal six-gun battery, while Exeter had the stronger late anti-aircraft fit.
NotesAoba and HMS Exeter looked similar and both carried six 8-inch guns. Exeter had somewhat better anti-aircraft armament by the time she was lost, while Aoba offered higher speed at the cost of somewhat weaker protection. Given those tradeoffs, the preference here is Aoba. This is a bounded personal assessment and does not make either ship superior in every mission or refit state.