Richelieu 1944

Richelieu-Class Battleships were built for the French Navy during the years of 1935 to 1940.  They were designed to counter the threat of the Italian Littorio-class battleships. They were 4 planned, and 2 completed in this class.

Richelieu-Class Battleships served between the years of 1940 to 1967.

Preceded by:  Dunkerque class

Succeeded by: Alsace class (Designed)

Richelieu-Class Battleships Richelieu Jean Bart & Clemenceau were laid down. Only the first two, Richelieu and Jean Bart, were completed. They saw service during World War II, first under Vichy control in Dakar (1940) and Casablanca (1942), then under Allied control. Richelieu participated in British Home Fleet and Eastern Fleet operations and supported French forces' return to Indochina in late 1945. Jean Bart was not completed until the 1950s and took part in the operations off Port Said (Egypt) during the Suez Crisis in 1956.