FLOTA DE RĂZBOI FRANCEZĂ (1870-1914)
FRENCH NAVY (1871-1914)

Summary/Abstract: A presentation, which at first glance seems implausible, of the French navy occupying the second position among naval powers in the second half of the 19th century but finding itself at the start of the first world conflagration on a surprising fourth place. However, this position is debatable, the total tonnage of the fleet being such an important criterion, without a serious bearing on the quality of the ships and, especially, on the homogeneity and the operability of the combat units. I presented only a few causes, trying to describe them: a political instability with a serious impact on naval investments, the enduring persistence on the "superiority of Jéune Ecole" even after being proven as a failure, the technical inability of the French arsenals being perhaps among the most important.

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