Given your preferences, I'd say:
Ragnar for Steel. She's very capable and can imitate some Russian Kiting Gunboat style. She's different, but it might be close enough that your skills will transfer well.
Pommern for Coal. She's a lot of fun, and the Torps are great if they stay intact throughout a head-on charge. The main guns aren't a high point, but they're consistent against cruisers.