Treaty arithmetic shows that France had room to build carriers. France shared a treaty level with Italy despite having Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts plus possessions in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Pacific, and South China Sea. One explanation offered is that some treaty thinking still reflected the hope that the First World War had made another great-power conflict unthinkable, reducing defence to a force that merely looked adequate. The London settlement left France considerable freedom in cruisers, destroyers, and submarines, even allowing already-built French submarines to retain their 8-inch guns. Bearn left much of the 60,000-ton carrier allowance unused, enough for fast carriers that could have hunted surface raiders, reinforced the Far East, and supported alliance tasks alongside the Dunkerque class. France built the Dunkerques and three Richelieu-class battleships before laying down Joffre in November 1938.
Notable Point · 48:24-55:23
Treaty tonnage and missed fast carriers
France had carrier tonnage and global commitments, yet chose battleship construction while leaving fast carriers until the Joffre class was too late.
8-inch GunsCaribbeanCarrier TonnageDunkerque Class BattleshipsFast Task GroupsFleet CarriersFrench Colonial EmpireFrench NavyIndian OceanInterwar NavyLondon Naval TreatyNaval StrategyNaval TreatiesPacific OceanRichelieu Class BattleshipsSouth China SeaSurface RaidersWar To End All WarsWashington Naval Treaty