
FEEL THE BEARN
A Timeline of France's Only Carrier in World War II and Beyond
A Timeline of France's Only Carrier in World War II and Beyond
In the waning years of the interwar period, the Bearn had been acknowledged as a complete design flop by the French navy. An unusual engine layout, casemate guns, and battleship armor conspired to limit France's first carrier to just 21 knots. A complicated elevator design made the ship prone to being unable to conduct flight operations. By 1938, Bearn's day as a frontline unit were over as two Joffre-class carriers were ordered. The ship was to be replaced, and not quickly enough.
1939 - World War II breaks out, and Bearn remains the only operational carrier for France. Following a failed attempt to locate German pocket battleships, she is given the mission of transporting gold bullion to the United States.
1940 - Her fighters disembarked to help in the war effort, Bearn is sent to make a second bullion run. While returning home the captain receives word that France's naval ports have been captured. He directs the carrier to the France’s Caribbean island of Martinique to await further orders. The ship is there when France surrenders, and there it will stay
1943 - The pro-Vichy governor of Martinique switches sides and joins the Free French. The naval wing of the Free French requests aid by the United States to get the Bearn back into the fight. BuShips turns down the proposal - citing the unique design features of the carrier and the potential scope of work. Charles De Gaulle personally intervenes with Franklin Roosevelt and requests that the Bearn be given the refit that she needs, so that she can help restore France's honor. Roosevelt agrees, and orders Vice Admiral Edward Cochrane to initiate a full rebuild for the carrier.
Feb 1944 - The Bearn re-enters service. Her casemate guns are gone, as is her 3inch armor belt. Two elevators of American design have been fitted, as have two H 2-1 catapults. The SNFCM reciprocating steam engines and the two original Parsons geared steam turbines have been removed with great effort and have been replaced with 4 Parsons single reduction geared steam turbines that are powered by hine Babcock & Wilcox 400 psi boilers. Speed has been improved to 29 knots. Aircraft capacity has been bolstered to 50 planes.
The ship is scheduled to take six months to train up its new crew, but the Free French insist that it be part of the D-Day landings.
June 1944 - Aircraft from the Bearn are deployed and bomb German gun emplacements on the Atlantic Wall. The sight of a French ship flying an over-sized French flag serves as an inspiration for Free French soldiers
August 1944 - The Bearn is deployed with the British carriers HMS Indefatigable and Formidable as part of Operation Goodwood. Aircraft from the three Allied carriers launch multiple attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz. On August 29th, a bomb from a plane from the Bearn penetrates the deck next to the second forward turret, causing a massive detonation that blows the dreadnought in half.
Last edited: