Why bringing Richelieu to Jean Bart's standard required a survey

How much work would postwar Richelieu need to match Jean Bart's completed standard?

A substantial refit would be required, but the panel refuses a precise estimate without a condition survey because seal fatigue, wear, and design changes could expand the work dramatically.

The panel expects a significant amount of work rather than a straightforward equipment swap. Richelieu's wartime service and existing machinery condition would have to be assessed before planners could price the conversion. Seals, fatigue, wear, and the changes made while Jean Bart was completed could all create hidden work. Without an actual survey, a precise figure would imply certainty the evidence does not support. Naval modernization begins with material-condition evidence, even when a sister ship represents the desired end state.