Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:13:50-2:14:14

France's response to a 38 cm-armed Scharnhorst

A 38 cm-armed Scharnhorst would arrive too late to change the ordered Dunkerques, but could accelerate France's move to the Richelieu class.

Dunkerque Class BattleshipsNaval Arms RaceRichelieu Class BattleshipsScharnhorst Class Battleships
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Question

Would France jump immediately to the Richelieu class if Scharnhorst carried 38 cm guns from the outset?

Short answer

The Dunkerques were already committed, but France could accelerate work on the Richelieu class in response.

Notes

France already had the Dunkerque class on order when the German design decision would become clear, so an immediate substitution was unlikely. A larger Scharnhorst battery could accelerate the Richelieu programme. Construction already under way limits the speed of an arms-race response even when the next design changes.