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French Battleships 1914–45
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Description
This authoritative study examines the French Navy's last battleships, using detailed color plates and historical photographs, taking them from their inception before World War I, through their service in World War II including the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon in 1943, and the service of Richelieu in the war against Japan.
On September 1, 1910, France became the last great naval power to lay down a dreadnought battleship, the Courbet. The ensuing Courbet and Bretagne-class dreadnoughts had a relatively quiet World War I, spending most of it at anchor off the entrance to the Adriatic, keeping watch over the Austro-Hungarian fleet. The constraints of the Washington Naval Treaty prevented new battleships being built until the 1930s, with the innovative Dunkerque-class and excellent Richelieu-class of battleships designed to counter new German designs.
After the fall of France in 1940, the dreadnoughts and fast battleships of the Marine Nationale had the unique experience of firing against German, Italian, British, and American targets during the war.
Table of Contents
Design and Development
Operation History
Variants
Colour plate commentary
Product details
Published | Jan 22 2019 |
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Format | Paperback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 48 |
ISBN | 9781472818195 |
Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
Illustrations | 80 b/w; 32 col |
Dimensions | 248 x 184 mm |
Series | New Vanguard |
Short code | NVG 266 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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Noppen's slim study offers a useful introduction to 20th-century French battleships. Make it your Launchpad to further exploration of this fascinating topic. Recommended!
Cybermodeler Online

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