French Aircraft Carriers

French Aircraft Carriers 1910–2000 charts the evolution of French naval aviation from its experimental beginnings to the modern era, providing the first comprehensive English-language study of this remarkable century-long story.

The origins of French carrier aviation lie with the Foudre – initially a torpedo-boat carrier and later converted to operate seaplanes. During the First World War, converted merchant ships supported flying operations, and the former sloop Bapaume became the first French vessel to launch wheeled aircraft while underway.

Following the Washington Treaty of 1922, France joined other naval powers in converting incomplete battleships into carriers, resulting in Béarn. Between 1929 and 1936, fifteen design studies were produced, though only the distinctive Commandant Teste entered service. The book explores these projects in detail, along with the uncompleted pre-war carriers Joffre and Painlevé.

After the Second World War, France operated second-hand carriers from Britain and the USA – Dixmude, Arromanches, Lafayette and Bois Belleau – which served with distinction during the Indochina conflict. Indigenous carrier design resumed with Clemenceau (1961) and Foch (1963), both of which enjoyed long and successful careers. The final chapters cover the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle and the French Navy’s future carrier plans, bringing the narrative up to date.

Illustrated with more than 200 photographs, line drawings and plans, this is an indispensable reference for naval historians and enthusiasts alike.

About the Authors

John Jordan is the editor of Warship and a leading historian of the French Navy. His previous works include a series of acclaimed technical histories published by Seaforth, as well as Warships after Washington.

Jean Moulin, his collaborator, is a noted French authority on the vessels of the Marine Nationale and a respected researcher of French naval architecture.