An audience defense of Bearn's mixed machinery prompts a comparison with the British Courageous-class conversions. Bearn's triple-expansion outer engines delivered about 6,500 nautical miles at 10 knots. The geared-turbine Courageous-class carriers managed about 6,630 nautical miles at the same speed while also displacing less at deep load. The French arrangement therefore sacrificed the speed needed for carrier operations without buying superior long-range economy.
Notable Point · 1:04:56-1:06:05
Bearn's range case fails against the Courageous class
A direct endurance comparison shows that Bearn surrendered speed without gaining a meaningful cruising-range advantage.