Could triple 18-inch turrets fit an Iowa-class barbette?

Could Kentucky and Illinois carry triple 18-inch guns in the same barbettes as the Iowa-class Mark 7 turrets?

The panel finds twins plausible but remains unconvinced that triples would be practical; the cited plans are not established here as a workable installation.

The claim that Kentucky and Illinois could receive triple 18-inch/48 guns in existing Iowa-class barbettes meets considerable doubt. Twin 18-inch mountings seem plausible to the panel, while fitting triples may depend on a theoretical arrangement that was never developed into a practical installation. Larger projectiles and propellant charges would require larger, slower hoists and more ammunition space. The extra two inches of bore therefore understate the change in handling requirements. The speakers have not established what the cited plans actually prove and suggest that a study might even have been intended to show why the arrangement should not be built.