French navy investigating the best setup of the armament for the new battleships according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1911-1912 no. 3

An item reported that for the main armament of the newest French battleships three designs were studied. In one design consisted the armament of 5x2-34cm guns in turrets situated on the axis and 22-14cm guns in casemates. In the second design consisted the armament of 5x2-34cm guns in turrets situated on the axis and 16-14cm guns in turrets. In the third design consisted the armament of 12-34cm guns in turrets (fore and aft triple turrets) situated on the axis and 22-14cm guns in casemates. The34cm gun was to be used of the 1911 battleships but in the meantime was decided give these a similar armament as the Courbet-class.