Why Hoche was called the Grand Hotel

Hoche's Grand Hotel nickname came from French commentary on the ship. The comparison between French pre-dreadnoughts and floating hotels therefore has a French historical source. Carnot's appearance attracts an even stronger comparison with a building sent to sea. Tirpitz's brickwork camouflage supplies another reference, since it disguised her as a building in harbour. Giving Carnot the same paint scheme is a joke about her architectural appearance.