French governments could change as parliamentary coalitions were rearranged without a new general election, repeatedly shifting ministerial priorities. The naval industry had a parallel coordination problem because individual yards altered common plans and produced ships that were difficult to operate as a uniform squadron. The yards could produce good vessels while still completing them slowly and introducing differences within a class. Combined with wartime demographic and psychological losses, those institutional problems complicated the prospect of a naval race with Italy.
Notable Point · 56:41-1:02:18
French coalitions and fragmented shipbuilding
Rapid coalition turnover and independently minded yards made it harder for France to sustain coherent naval policy after the First World War.