IronCross42 If you used modules you would keep that rate of fire (or even improve it), while bolstering defense.
Take a look at the missile modules of my ship Chariot.
It fires at a steady and almost unending rate. At the same time it doesn't mattter a lot if one module gets destroyed. (No chain explosions.)
Note:
Chariot was made before the 0.14.5 update, so now it would probably do better with even more crew in each module, since the factories seem to produce missiles faster than the crew takes them out. At the same time these modules could have a more optimal lay-out, yet I like how the crew seems to fly over the moving walkways.