Joffre was PA-16, the result of a long sequence of French studies that followed Béarn. That sequence included the island-equipped PA-1 and the flush-deck PA-2 before the sixteenth proposal. The studies show a sustained effort to turn experience with Béarn into a purpose-built carrier. Béarn's tapered bow and stern, sloping deck ends, and poorly arranged lifts left too little horizontal flight-deck area. Joffre applied those lessons, though repeated refinement on paper still could not guarantee a practical operating cycle.
Notable Point · 26:54-28:23
Joffre and the PA-16 design lineage
Joffre emerged as PA-16 after the island-equipped PA-1 and flush-deck PA-2, applying lessons from Béarn's cramped flight deck and awkward lifts.