The French Navy in the First World War (original) (raw)

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• The French Navy in the First World War

Expenditure on the French Navy doubled between 1910 and 1914. Fourteen new battleships were ordered along with cruisers, destroyers and submarines.

On the outbreak of the First World War France had 19 battleships, 32 cruisers, 86 destroyers, 34 submarines and 115 torpedo boats.

During the Dardanelles operation the French Navy sent four battleships, six destroyers and submarines. The battleship Bovet and four submarines were lost during this campaign.

The French Navy also operated its own air service. By the Armistice the French Navy had 1,264 aircraft (mostly seaplanes) and 37 airships. These mainly operated from coastal stations as reconnaissance and for light bombing operations.

After 1915 the French Navy was expected to concentrate on protecting French and British shipping in the Mediterranean. Unable to cope with German U-boats, more than 500 French merchant ships were sunk during the war. The French Navy's total losses in action was 4 battleships, 6 cruisers, 23 destroyers and torpedo boats, 14 submarines and 46 various patrol craft.