French and Italian construction choices

France's enlarged Suffren concept offers a fast 12-inch-gun alternative to the historical Dunkerque path and could produce three ships capable of about 33 knots. Their smaller guns would attract comparison with foreign 16-inch battleships, but speed and balanced design would still make them useful fast capital ships. Italian export income and industrial activity generated by Soviet orders could accelerate the Littorio program beyond the reconstructed Conte di Cavour and Andrea Doria classes. By 1939 Italy might already be developing a successor generation, although the emphasis on battleships could reduce cruiser construction. The same treaty expansion would produce different procurement choices in navies with different designs, yards, and strategic theaters.