Q&A · 1:31:19-1:32:04

Keeping French battleship construction continuous

Preventing a lengthy interruption in battleship construction is proposed as the most useful change to French naval policy.

Question

Which French naval decision would be worth changing in the past?

Short answer

Prevent the Jeune École from interrupting battleship construction after the Franco-Prussian War.

Notes

The proposed intervention is to prevent the Jeune École from interrupting French battleship construction after the Franco-Prussian War. The argument assumes that the French Navy could develop effectively while maintaining that programme. A ten-year halt in battleship building is identified as the damaging choice. Continuous construction is therefore preferred to the doctrinal diversion.