After 1945, France rebuilt naval aviation around transferred American and British carriers, including La Fayette, Bois Belleau, and Arromanches. These ships expanded capacity before France could supply a national carrier force of its own. French doctrine treated naval aviation as the link between the navy and army, allowing aircraft from the sea to support troops ashore. That made it especially useful for colonial policing and expeditionary operations in places such as Indochina. The borrowed ships met immediate operational needs while France rebuilt an independent capability.
Chapter · 20:45-22:50
Transferred carriers rebuild France's expeditionary air arm
American and British carriers let France rebuild naval aviation for Indochina and other expeditionary missions while linking maritime air power to army support ashore.