The asymmetric battery is open to criticism, with two forward twins or three triple turrets offered as possible alternatives. The adopted seven-gun scheme still matched the class's role as a destroyer leader. The forward triple could fire during the approach without requiring the cruiser to turn broadside. After the destroyers launched their torpedoes, the two independently trainable aft twins could cover the withdrawal and engage more than one target. Swedish tactics therefore give the unusual layout a practical logic, even if another arrangement might have been preferable.
Notable Point · 29:56-31:46
The odd gun layout suited destroyer attack tactics
Three guns forward and four aft made tactical sense for leading destroyers into a torpedo attack and covering their withdrawal.