Would a new Iowa-derived battleship replace its 5-inch secondary guns with Worcester-class 6-inch weapons?
Short answerA navalized version of the 6-inch system is plausible because it offers more power, provided the much larger battleship can support it properly.
NotesThe 6-inch weapon promises greater hitting power than the familiar 5-inch battery. The Worcester installation would still be a starting point rather than an off-the-shelf transplant. Ammunition handling, mounting, and support arrangements would have to be adapted for the capital ship. A battleship has the volume to make that work more readily than a cruiser, which is the practical reason the proposal remains plausible.