One-off battleships deny France a coherent squadron

Brennus, Charles Martel, Carnot, and Jauréguiberry remained individual designs instead of establishing a repeatable production line. Even the three Charlemagne-class ships accumulated differences as their construction began in successive years and their designs continued to change. Charlemagne and Saint Louis are treated as more alike than Gaulois, whose modifications make it something of a separate case in this interpretation. A consistent construction rhythm returned with the République programme and the later Liberté, Danton, Courbet, and Bretagne classes. Ships conceived and built at similar times to closely related designs could operate together as a concerted force.