The French fleet program according to the Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 21 March 1931

Dunkerque. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Graf Spee. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

La Galissonnière-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item dated Paris, France 29 March reported that the cabine handed the naval commission of the Chamber a fleet program over. One of the issues was the new building of a battleship of 23.000 tons (1) as answer on the German so-called pocket battleship(2). Total proposed new building was 45.000 ton including the 23.000 tons battleship armed with 11.9” guns [actually 33cm/13”] while the 2-7.500 ton cruisers (3) were to be armed with 5” guns. The remaining tonnage was to be divided over a scout and flotilla leaders.

Notes

1. The fast battleship Dunkerque built under the 1931 Programm, laid down on 24 December 1932, launched on 2 October 1935, commissioned on 31 December 1936, in service on 1 September 1938, scuttled on 27 November 1942 and broken up in 1958. Part of Dunkerque-class preceded by planned Lyon-class and realized Bretagne-class and succeeded by Richelieu-class.

2. The German panzerschiffe were reclassified as heavy cruisers in February 1940, they were called abroad pocket battleships. Deutschland-class built between 1929-1936 succeeded by Admiral Hipper-class and planned D-class cruisers,consisting of the Deutschland (renamed Lützow in 1940, Admiral Graf Spee and Admiral Scheer. Displacement of the Admiral Graf Spee 12,540 (standard)-16,280 (full load) tons and 2x3-28cm/11” guns.

3. The La Galissonnière-class, preceded by Émile Bertin, succeeded by the planned De Grasse, armed with 15.2cm/6” guns.