These magnificent battleships, rightfully recognized as the best French ships of this class and one of the most successful in the world, were created to counter the Italian and German fleets - but they had to fight against the former allies, the British and Americans. After the surrender of Paris in 1940, in order to prevent the capture of the battleships Richelieu and Jean Bar by the Germans, it was decided to launch a preemptive strike on the French fleet. However, the Richelieu, attacked by the British in Dakar, successfully repelled a British air raid and landed a shell on the battleship Barham, forcing the Limonniki to retreat. And the unfinished Jean Bar, stuck in Casablanca, survived against the newest American battleship Massachusetts, receiving 5 hits of 406 mm shells and 3 bombs. But the odyssey of the best French battleships was just beginning... In a new book from the author of the bestselling book Heavy Artillery Ships Dunkirk and Strasbourg, you will find comprehensive information about the construction, modernization, service and combat use of all battleships of the Richelieu type. The collector's edition is illustrated with hundreds of exclusive drawings and photographs.