Noppen, Ryan K./Wright, Paul (Illustr.) French Battleships 1914-45

On September 1, 1910, France became the last great naval power to lay down a dreadnought battleship, the "Courbet". The ensuing "Courbet" and Bretagne-class dreadnoughts had a relatively quiet World War I, spending most of it at anchor off the entrance to the Adriatic, keeping watch over the Austro-Hungarian fleet. The constraints of the Washington Naval Treaty prevented new battleships being built until the 1930s, with the innovative "Dunkerque"-class and excellent "Richelieu"-class of battleships 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. This authoritative study examines these fascinating ships, using detailed colour plates and historical photographs, taking them from their inception before World War I, through their service in World War II including the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon in 1943, and the service of "Richelieu" in the war against Japan.

The restrictions of the Washington Naval Agreement prevented new battleships from being built until the 1930s. The innovative battleships of the "Dunkerque" and "Richelieu" classes were built in France in response to the new battleships of the German navy. After the fall of France in June 1940, the battleships and speedboats of the French Navy had the unique experience of firing on German, Italian, British and American targets alike during the war. This study examines these fascinating ships through detailed colour plates and historical photographs, from their roots in the years before the First World War, through their use in the Second World War, to the sinking of the French fleet at Toulon in 1943 and the use of the "Richelieu" in the war against Japan.