Initial concepts concentrated their guns forward and aimed to defeat eight-inch cruiser fire. The French then scaled up the fine-lined Suffren-class heavy-cruiser form, whose extremely light protection showed why a cruiser-derived starting point needed real armor before it could answer 283 mm fire. The arrival of the Deutschland class raised the threat to six 283 mm guns, while French funding and dockyard limits constrained the response. British construction, engines, and even heavier-gun options appeared as possible industrial fallbacks, although the likely plan still preserved French fitting-out and turrets.
Chapter · 10:56-15:13
The Deutschlands turned a cruiser killer into Dunkerque
Germany's Deutschland class pushed French studies toward a 25,000-ton ship with eight 330 mm guns and armor intended to resist 283 mm fire.