The Richelieu-class battleships were the last and largest battleships of the French Navy, staying in service into the 1960s. They still remain to this day the largest warships ever built by France. Designed in the 1930s to counter the threat of the Italian Vittorio Veneto-class battleships, the Richelieu class were essentially scaled-up versions of the preceding Dunkerque class, featuring a main battery of eight 380 mm (15.0 in) guns in two quadruple turrets in forward superfiring positions.

Four Richelieu-class ships, of three different subclasses, were designed over the course of three naval construction programs, in 1935, 1936, and 1938; only three were laid down. Only the first two units, the Richelieu and the Jean Bart, were ever completed. They saw service during World War II, first under Vichy control in Dakar (1940) and Casablanca (1942), then under the Allies' control, the Richelieu participating in British Home Fleet and Eastern Fleet operations and supporting the French forces' return to Indochina in late 1945. The Jean Bart was not completed until the 1950s, and took part in the operations off Port Said (Egypt) during the Suez Crisis in 1956. The Richelieu was scrapped in 1968 and the Jean Bart in 1970.

If you have read the earlier review of the Tone, this one is very similar. The book opens with a rather comprehensive history of the development and deployment of the ship during WWII. As it was damaged by the British several times to prevent it falling into German hands, it saw little action until it was overhauled in the US during 1942/43, a bit of a problem due to its metric design. I found it equally interesting that she spent much of her time based out of Tricomalee, Celon.

What makes this book truly remarkable is that there is not a single photograph anywhere within its pages. Instead, modern 3D graphic arts provides the reader with well over 100 renders of the ship's exterior in superb detail. It is as if you walked aboard her with a camera and started photographing everything. Even better, there are images from angles that a man with a camera would not be able to easily reproduce. Every aspect of the ship is covered from stem to stern. In addition, there is a double-sided A2 sheet of the plans of the ship in 1/400 scale. This additional sheet is a real boon for modelers and those who just like to pour over plans.

It is a great read from a historical standpoint and an outstanding visual treat. A book that every battleship fan should have in their collection.

February 2013

Review book courtesy of the fine folks at Kagero. Visit them for more books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.