French officers proposed capable ships, but their ideas did not become durable institutional policy. Bearn was too slow to turn into the wind, conduct flying operations, and regain a battle line moving at useful speed. That was a serious weakness amid the land-based air threat of the Mediterranean. Dunkerque and Richelieu received strong antiaircraft armament because France understood the danger, yet an effective carrier partner remained years away. The result was a promising fast fleet whose aviation component never gathered enough attention to mature before war.
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A fast French fleet without its air component
The concluding argument finds a navy building fast, well-armed ships without the carrier needed to make that force coherent.