Richelieu Class Fast Battleships: Jean Bart

[ivorthediver]

Yes they dont make them like that anymore Dennis , looks the business and very sleek for her size .

[designeraccd]

Some of the books I have consider them probably, given their size, the all around best of the 3rd generation battleships...............hhmmm??? DFO

[designeraccd]

A few more of the handsome JEAN BART........ DFO

[ivorthediver]

Thank you for letting us share these Dennis , great photo's

[designeraccd]

A nice view of JEAN BART off Egypt in 1956. I'm betting Nasser would have preferred her to be in a French port! DFO

[designeraccd]

A terrific shot of JEAN BART loading troops in Algiers, 1956................ DFO

[Brian James]

Richelieu Class Battleship Jean Bart pictured at Casablanca in January 1943.She was laid down in 1936 and was launched in 1940, following the outbreak of World War II in Europe. The ship was not complete by the time Germany won the Battle of France, and Jean Bart was rushed to Casablanca to escape advancing German troops. She had only one of her main turrets installed, along with a handful of anti-aircraft guns.
While in Casablanca, the French attempted to prepare the ship for action as much as was possible in light of limited infrastructure and the necessary parts to complete the vessel. Her anti-aircraft armament was slowly strengthened as guns became available and a search radar was fitted in 1942. In November, American and British forces invaded French North Africa in Operation Torch; She initially helped to resist the attack, engaging in a gunnery duel with South Dakota Class Battleship USS Massachusetts before being badly damaged by American dive bombers. Following the defection of French forces in the region to the Allied side, the French attempted to have the ship completed in the United States, but the requests came to nothing as the USN had no interest in the project. She was accordingly repaired as much as possible in Casablanca, thereafter spending the rest of the war as a Training Ship there.

[designeraccd]

A view from her port beam after damage in Casablanca........ DFO

[designeraccd]

Interesting view of JEAN BART post war, but prior to her completion........ DFO

[designeraccd]

JEAN BART at Casablanca, '42, and a very similar view when she was a "porcupine" in 1955! The last finished BB sure became a looker!!!! It is to bad she was completed 10 years late. What a formidable addition she would have been to the RN in the Indian Ocean. DFO