French Battleship Richelieu (1939) Country: France Type: Battleship Service: 1940 - 1958 Laid down: October 1935 Launched: January 1939 Commissioned: 15 July 1940 Decommissioned: 1958 Struck: 16 January 1968 Fate: Scrapped September 1968

The two Richelieu class battleships were the last and largest of the battleships of the French Navy, staying in service 1960s. They were derived from the Dunkerque class, and designed to counter the threat of the Italian Navy. Their speed, armor, armament and overall technology were state of the art when they were built.

The Richelieu was a battleship of the French Navy, the lead ship of her class. She served during World War II. The armistice between France and Germany prompted British attacks on 8 July 1940 which damaged the battleship. On 24 September 1940, Richelieu fought against Allied naval forces at the Battle of Dakar. After French forces in Africa joined the Allies in November 1942, Richelieu sailed for refitting at the New York Navy Yard on 30 January 1943, which was declared complete on 10 October 1943. Richelieu then served in various operations in cooperation with British naval forces. She was present in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. The battleship remained in active service with the French Navy in the immediate postwar years. On 16 October 1948 she was withdrawn from active service for refit and subsequent use as a gunnery training ship. From 25 May 1956, she was used as an accommodation ship in Brest, and placed in reserve in 1958. The Richelieu was condemned on 16 January 1968 and renamed Q432. She was scrapped by Cantieri Navali Santa Maria of Genoa in September 1968.