French aircraft carrier Béarn

The Béarn was commissioned in 1927 and was the only aircraft carrier produced by France until after World War II.

During the German invasion of France, Béarn was dispatched to the United States to ferry new aircraft which had been ordered from that country, including Vought Vindicators and Grumman Wildcats. Neither aircraft reached its destination before the surrender of France in 1940, and the Béarn instead sought harbor in Martinique. She was one of a number of French ships that were effectively interned at Martinique, at United States insistence, to prevent their use by Germany.

After German occupation of Vichy France (Case Anton), Bearn was one of several French ships that re-joined the Allies. She was, however, too obsolete to participate in the naval operations of the Free French fleet. Instead, in 1943/44, she was converted to an aircraft transport, a valuable role to the Allied war effort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...ier_B%C3%A9arn



http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNFR_3-50_m1922.htm

It also seems a new carrier named Joffre was 25% when France surrendered June 1940.

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