IOTL, Napoleon devoted a huge amount of resource into its Navy, with dismal outcomes. France has lost the cream of her navy during the Revolution, with its officer corp guillotined and experienced sailors untrained, and had arguably never recovered ever since.
What if Napoleon reckoned that French Navy would never be a match again with the Royal Navy in terms of training, and tried to offset the gap by adopting new technology? What if he gave the steamship a try despite the Académie française's suggestions against it?
What if Napoleon reckoned that French Navy would never be a match again with the Royal Navy in terms of training, and tried to offset the gap by adopting new technology? What if he gave the steamship a try despite the Académie française's suggestions against it?