An item reported that the French minister of war Piétri on short notice would come with a law concept including proposals for a new fleet program. It seemed to include the building of a 35.000 tons battle cruiser (1) to be added to the Mediterranean fleet as reply to the 35.000 tons Italian battleships Vittorio Veneto and Littorio.(2) A second battle cruiser was to be laid on 1 January 1937 when the Treaty of Washington expired.
Notes
1. The fast battleship Richelieu, laid down by Arsenal de Brest on 22 October 1935, launched on 17 January 1939, commissioned on 1 April 1940, decommissioned in 1967 and stricken and broken up in 1968. With a displacement of 37,850 (standard)-44,698 (full load) tons and as main armament 2x4-38cm/15” guns cal 45Modèle 1935 guns. Preceded by Dunkerque-class succeeded by never realized Alsace-class.
2. Part of the Littorio or Vittorio Veneto-class preceded by planned Francesco Caracciolo and realized Andrea Doria-class with a displacement of 40,724 (standard)-45,236 (full load) tons and a main armament of 3x3-38.1cm/15”guns. The first two completed ships were the Littorio and the Vittorio Veneto, laid down in 1934.
3. Probably the Jean Bart preceded by Dunkerque-class succeeded by never realized Alsace-class. Laid down by Chantiers de Penhoët, Saint Nazaire, France on 12 December 1936, launched on 6 March 1940, commissioned on 8 January 1949, not earlier in actual service as on 1 May 1955, decommissioned on 1 August 1957, stricken on 10 February 1970 and same year broken up.
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