Q&A · 3:24:37-3:25:15

Would Dutch and French capital-ship plans survive?

The war strengthens the case for new Dutch and French capital ships without removing the industrial limits on delivering them.

Question

Would the Dutch build their proposed battlecruisers and France build a Richelieu-class successor?

Short answer

Possibly, especially for the Dutch, but industrial lead times mean the ships would probably arrive only after the war that created the demand.

Notes

The Netherlands might complete one or two of its proposed battlecruisers because the war would demonstrate a clear requirement. They would not arrive in time to influence the conflict that prompted them. France might likewise pursue a successor to the Richelieu class. Whether that ship reached service would still depend on yard capacity and construction time, the same constraints that limited German and Japanese acceleration. Strategic demand can justify a program without guaranteeing timely delivery.