The ship was the product of more than a decade of difficult investment and institutional learning after France's 1920 industrial position appeared unable to support such a design. French yards and manufacturers rebuilt their command of boilers, turbines, welding, and integrated warship construction despite limited government funding. Algérie shows how naval capability depends on sustained industrial development as well as an inspired set of plans. Only one was built because the same limited money and yard capacity soon had to support the more politically exciting Dunkerque and Richelieu capital ships.
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A decade of investment made Algérie possible
Algérie embodied France's recovery of shipbuilding, boiler, and turbine capability after an industrial position that looked bleak in 1920.