Richelieu shows that the scenario includes unfinished ships as well as the active fleet. An organized departure could bring other incomplete French ships out with the fleet. Because the battleship was already close to completion, a British yard such as Cammell Laird or a paid American refit could plausibly finish her by late 1940 or early 1941. Her eight 15-inch guns and roughly 32-knot speed would add another modern fast capital ship to Allied planning.
Notable Point · 2:07:31-2:09:12
Richelieu could join the fast fleet in 1941
An organized evacuation could send the nearly complete Richelieu to a British or American yard instead of leaving her isolated at Dakar.