Dunkerque, Richelieu, and France's two-theater problem

Why praise the Dunkerque class but sound less enthusiastic about the Richelieu class?

Dunkerque was an innovative ship with a clear specialist role, while Richelieu was a capable but more conventional continuation that did not solve France's treaty-driven need to cover both the Mediterranean and wider imperial commitments.

The Dunkerques were fast, purpose-built ships with a clear specialist role. Richelieu's two forward quadruple 15-inch turrets offered a small target while closing, but the design was an enlarged continuation rather than a fresh answer to France's strategic problem. Treaty parity with Italy was the larger constraint. France needed ships strong enough to contain the Mediterranean threat while releasing part of the fleet for wider imperial duties. The comparison ties layout and armament choices to the French Navy's two-theater problem.