Claire Clark's scenario gives French destroyers and larger ships more capable gun batteries, but those improvements do not stop the land defeat of May 1940. Political confusion after France's collapse would still limit the navy's contribution. Germany could gain more efficient capital ships and cruisers, and a better secondary battery might help Bismarck reach port after Denmark Strait. A more standardized destroyer program could also produce somewhat larger and more uniform forces. Those forces would still be heavily outnumbered, especially against a Royal Navy whose own destroyers had become more capable and less vulnerable to air attack.
Notable Point · 2:31:31-2:32:48
Why better guns leave France and Germany's larger problems intact
More effective gun systems could improve ships without removing France's land defeat or Germany's shortage of naval strength.