Chapter 650: Funding the Navy
Antwerp Airfield Command Center — Charles and Vice Admiral Guépratte were deep in discussion regarding the future development of the French Navy.
"Our destroyers have long been influenced by the 'green-water navy' concept, so we've favored smaller vessels," Guépratte said, visibly worried. "Most of our existing destroyers are only 800 tons. It wasn't until Argentina ordered a 1,000-ton class that we built anything larger."
Charles had studied the related records. The history was, frankly, an embarrassment.
Back in 1910, Argentina had ordered 1,000-ton destroyers from Britain, France, and Germany. France had been the slowest to deliver, and during sea trials, the performance was poor. Argentina canceled the contract.
France had no choice but to keep the ship for its own use. That vessel became the "Adventurer-class", the most advanced destroyer in the French Navy during the war.
(Image: Adventurer-class French destroyer, commissioned 1914, 1,000-ton standard displacement.)
"The problem now," Guépratte continued, handing Charles a file, "is that many within the Navy are debating whether destroyers should continue the small-size tradition or grow larger."
Charles had discussed the future of naval warfare with Wells before, including the importance of destroyers, but he hadn't yet specified which direction they should evolve. As a result, the Navy was now divided on the issue.
Charles answered without hesitation. "We should absolutely go bigger. 1,000 tons isn't enough. We'll need 2,000 tons, even 3,000—perhaps more."
"Why?" Guépratte frowned. "At that size, how would it be different from a light cruiser?"
During World War I, light cruisers typically ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 tons. From a tonnage standpoint, there seemed to be an overlap.
But Charles knew they were fundamentally different ships.
"Admiral," Charles said, "we both know that cruisers—even light cruisers—are designed primarily for ship-to-ship combat, correct?"
"Of course," Guépratte nodded. "They operate with the fleet, using their speed to seize favorable positions."
"Which means they still rely on heavy armor and firepower, right?"
"Yes. What's the problem with that?" Guépratte looked puzzled.
Charles didn't answer directly. Instead, he stared at the admiral and asked quietly, "Now that we have torpedo bombers, shouldn't that change the very role of surface warships?"
Guépratte considered this. "Certainly. It means we need to strengthen our anti-aircraft defenses."
"But only strengthen?" Charles smiled faintly.
Guépratte blinked. "What else?"
Charles replied:
"Today we're strapping torpedoes to bombers. Tomorrow, we'll add bombs."
"Yes, their accuracy is still poor. But that will change."
"And once bomb accuracy improves, fleets may be destroyed by aircraft before they ever even see the enemy."
Guépratte was stunned.
Charles's statement was hard to visualize—but as he thought more deeply, he realized it made sense.
At least in the North Sea, it was entirely plausible. The sea was 643 kilometers wide. A Caproni bomber, with auxiliary tanks, could fly round-trip easily.
And the English Channel, at its widest only 180 kilometers? Even the short-ranged Camel fighters could cross that twice over.
So—would surface fleets ever see the enemy?
Before they even sighted enemy ships, they'd be spotted by aerial scouts and then relentlessly bombed by torpedo bombers and strategic bombers.
Charles added, "If a ship never sees its opponent, what use are heavy guns and thick armor?"
Guépratte slowly nodded, realization dawning.
"The future of destroyers should be focused on anti-aircraft, not anti-ship combat."
Charles nodded in agreement. This was the direction of naval development in the coming decades.
Once aircraft carriers appeared, the old paradigm would vanish.
Battleships—with their massive main guns and thick armor—would become useless.
They couldn't see the enemy. Couldn't hit them. Couldn't even reach them.
Armor? Worthless. Attacks would come from above—dive bombers from the sky or torpedoes under the waterline. Side armor would be meaningless.
In its place would be layered anti-aircraft firepower. Close-in, mid-range, long-range—everything focused on protecting the aircraft carriers.
Of course, destroyers—being the carrier's bodyguards—would still handle submarine threats and occasional ship combat, but those were secondary missions.
This was why battleships were doomed: their defining strengths—firepower and armor—would no longer matter. Without a role to play, they'd simply vanish.
Many WWII warships were forced to remove their secondary cannons and replace them with AA guns for this very reason.
"So," Charles concluded, "increasing destroyer tonnage is not like building a mini-cruiser. It's about shifting weight from armor and guns to anti-aircraft capability."
Guépratte's face changed from joy to worry several times over. Eventually, he sighed deeply.
"That's good news… but also terrible."
"Oh?" Charles asked, intrigued. "Why's that?"
Guépratte replied, "The good news is: if naval warfare evolves as you've described, our losses will be less than Britain's or Germany's—and we may actually catch up."
Charles nodded. France had fewer battleships than either of the other two major powers. If battleships became obsolete, Britain and Germany would suffer more.
Guépratte continued, "The bad news is: our naval development has nearly come to a halt. We simply don't have the resources to build next-generation destroyers."
France had poured nearly all its wartime funding into the army. The navy had been sidelined. There were only two destroyers under construction.
Charles didn't hesitate.
"I believe I can help," he said. "I mean, the Bernard Group can provide funding for the navy."
Guépratte's eyes lit up. "You… you're serious?"
"Absolutely," Charles said without hesitation.
This was a golden opportunity to gain influence over the navy—and Charles had no intention of letting it pass.
(End of Chapter 650)
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