Joffre placed its 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, and 130 mm weapons on the starboard side around a large island so the flight deck could retain its full width. That solution risked gunfire and spent cases crossing the flying area while putting substantial weight high and to one side. The intended ability to land aircraft from either end also put arresting wires beside the island, precisely where earlier British trials with HMS Hermes, HMS Argus, and HMS Eagle had found severe turbulence. The calculations for each feature may have worked on paper, but their combined operational effect looked hazardous.
Notable Point · 20:19-24:22
Joffre's island, guns, and bidirectional landings
Concentrating the 37 mm, machine-gun, and 130 mm batteries around a tall starboard island preserved deck width but created firing-arc, turbulence, and stability concerns.