French Battleships 1914-45

The last great naval power to lay down a dreadnought battleship was France in 1910, with the ensuing Courbet and Bretagne-class dreadnoughts having a quiet World War I. The Washington Naval Treaty prevented new battleships from being built until the 1930s, with the Dunkerque-class and Richelieu-class designed to counter new German designs. After the fall of France in 1940, the dreadnoughts and fast battleships of the Marine Nationale had the unique experience of firing against German, Italian, British, and American targets during the war.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 48 pages
\n Publication date: 24 January 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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On September 1, 1910, France became the final great naval power to commission a dreadnought battleship, the Courbet. The subsequent Courbet and Bretagne-class dreadnoughts had a relatively peaceful World War I, spending most of it at anchor off the entrance to the Adriatic, monitoring the Austro-Hungarian fleet. The limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty prevented the construction of new battleships until the 1930s, when innovative designs such as the Dunkerque-class and the excellent Richelieu-class of battleships were developed to counter new German designs.

Following France's defeat in 1940, the Marine Nationale's dreadnoughts and fast battleships had the unique experience of engaging German, Italian, British, and American targets during the war. This comprehensive study delves into these fascinating ships, utilizing detailed color plates and historical photographs, tracing their origins from before World War I to their service in World War II, including the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon in 1943 and the Richelieu's involvement in the war against Japan.

\n Weight: 166g\n
Dimension: 241 x 164 x 4 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781472818195\n \n