![]() In November, American and British forces invaded French North Africa in Operation Torch Jean Bart initially helped to resist the attack, engaging in a gunnery duel with the battleship USS Massachusetts before being badly damaged by American dive bombers. Her anti-aircraft armament was slowly strengthened as guns became available and a search radar was fitted in 1942. While in Casablanca, the French attempted to prepare the ship for action as much as was possible in light of limited infrastructure and the necessary parts to complete the vessel. She had only one of her main turrets installed, along with a handful of anti-aircraft guns. The ship was not complete by the time Germany won the Battle of France, and Jean Bart was rushed to Casablanca to escape advancing German troops. Jean Bart was laid down in 1936 and was launched in 1940, following the outbreak of World War II in Europe. They were scaled up to accommodate a much more powerful main battery of eight 380 mm (15 in) guns (compared to the 330 mm (13 in) guns of the Dunkerques), with increased armor to protect them from guns of the same caliber. Built as a response to the Italian Littorio class, the Richelieus were based on their immediate predecessors of the Dunkerque class with the same unconventional arrangement that grouped their main battery forward in two quadruple gun turrets. Jean Bart was a French fast battleship, the second and final member of the Richelieu class. ![]() General characteristics (Designed configuration)ĩ,500 nautical miles (17,600 km 10,900 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h 17 mph) Jean Bart photographed by a plane from USS Ranger during Operation Torch in November 1942 ![]()
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