Fifteen 9.2-inch guns versus six 12-inch guns

Would a 1920s large cruiser be better armed with six 12-inch guns or fifteen 9.2-inch guns?

Fifteen 9.2-inch guns, because their much higher volume of fire is more valuable against cruisers at likely visual engagement ranges.

For an unrestricted 20,000-25,000-ton cruiser in the 1920s, five triple 9.2-inch turrets are preferred to three twin 12-inch turrets. The assumption is that both batteries would fight at broadly similar visual engagement ranges. Fifteen smaller guns firing at roughly twice the per-gun rate could send about thirty shells toward the opponent for every six from the larger battery. That volume of fire is the reason for the preference against cruiser targets.