Chapter 592: From Frigates to Dreadnoughts
One million pounds, roughly equivalent to 25 million francs, might not seem like a lot to the British Royal Navy.
After all, a single 74-gun third-rate ship of the line—the backbone of their navy—costs £60,000–70,000 to build. Add in training, salaries, dockyard fees, and maintenance, and the cost rises to about £90,000. A single battle can send expenses soaring further.
To put this in perspective, during the Seven Years' War, Britain built 32 third-rate ships of the line, along with numerous first- and second-rates. A million pounds was just a drop in the ocean for such a fleet.
However, Joseph wasn't planning to build ships of the line—at least, not yet. He was focusing on frigates, the smallest class of true warships.
Frigate Costs
A typical 28-gun light frigate cost less than £10,000 to build. Even heavy frigates (fifth-rate ships in British terms) only cost about £18,000.
Of course, the Mediterranean Light frigates were anything but typical. While categorized as light frigates, they incorporated cutting-edge technology, driving up their costs.
Sané estimated that each Mediterranean Light would cost 40,000 francs—equivalent to £16,000.
A single LJ52 steam engine cost 50,000 francs, driven up by its advanced technology and low production volume.Even the precision-machined shaft and screw propeller assembly cost 6,000 francs.
Despite these costs, constructing 20 Mediterranean Light-class frigates would total only £320,000.
The heavier frigates, equipped with three steam engines, were projected to cost around £30,000 each. Building 12 of these ships would amount to £360,000.
Together, the two frigate classes would cost £680,000, and including training and operational expenses, the total investment would rise to £850,000.
This left over £150,000 from the funds Calonne had raised in Britain.
Investing in the Navy
Joseph was determined to reinvest all these funds into the navy, even adding additional allocations. History had proven that defeating Britain required a powerful fleet.
He understood that frigates alone could not decisively defeat the British Navy. At best, they could disrupt British operations in the Mediterranean through harassment tactics, eventually forcing them out.
For fleet battles, however, France would need third-rate ships of the line, boasting displacements exceeding 1,600 tons. These vessels would require steam engines producing at least 400 horsepower to operate effectively.
The famous Napoléon, with its 1,870-ton displacement, was equipped with a 960-horsepower steam engine. While it achieved an impressive 14 knots, Joseph realized that such speed wasn't immediately necessary.
A 400-horsepower engine would suffice for now, enabling speeds of 12 knots—already a 20–30% advantage over the typical 10-knot speed of contemporary third-rate ships.
The Vision of the "Dreadnought"
Joseph clapped the shoulder of the Navy Minister, who was still in a state of euphoria:
"This is only the beginning. One day, we'll have Dreadnoughts—ships capable of defeating the British fleet head-on."
Joseph planned to name his future steam-powered third-rate ships the Dreadnought class, following the ethos of beating the British at their own game.
The introduction of steam-powered third-rates would provide a disruptive advantage, comparable to the pre-World War I Dreadnought's impact on its era.
The Marquis de Castries, the Navy Minister, nodded eagerly. He didn't fully grasp what a "Dreadnought" was but trusted Joseph implicitly. If the Crown Prince claimed it could defeat the British fleet, it surely could!
Technical Challenges Ahead
However, Joseph was keenly aware that France lacked the technological capability to build a "Dreadnought" today.
Steam engines would need to deliver 200 horsepower per unit. With two engines, this would barely suffice to power a third-rate ship.Current engines, maxing out at 50 horsepower, required a fourfold increase. This demanded breakthroughs in engine design, metallurgy, forging, precision machining, and testing.
Joseph pinned his hopes on France's "Three Steam Pioneers"—Murdock, Sandell, and (potentially) Trevithick. All he could do was provide funding and guidance; the technical work was up to them.
If they could develop a 200-horsepower steam engine, the technology could also enable railways—a potential revolution for France's industrial economy.
Immediate Steps
As lunchtime approached, Joseph and a group of naval officers and designers headed for the mess hall. Over the past weeks, Joseph had eaten with them regularly, using the time for discussions about the new ships.
On the way, Joseph turned to the Navy Minister:
"Although the ships are still under construction, you must start training the crews immediately. These ships are unlike anything we've had before."
At this time, the Navy's General Staff had limited influence. Naval operations were highly decentralized, with each ship functioning as a self-contained unit. The Navy Minister was still responsible for recruitment and training.
Castries bowed slightly:
"Yes, Your Highness. I will ensure we recruit sufficient crew within four months. After about a year of training, they should be combat-ready."
"Four months?" Joseph frowned. "Doesn't the Navy already have sailors available?"
Castries explained:
"Even for light frigates, each requires a crew of 150 sailors. With 20 ships, that's over 3,000 men. Recruiting so many at once is challenging."
Recruitment Challenges
Joseph soon learned about the Navy's current system:
The Navy did not maintain a large standing force of sailors during peacetime. Instead, they relied on commercial sailors—recruiting from merchant ships and fishing vessels as needed.Sailors typically gathered at taverns near ports, waiting for work or recruitment.French sailors were famously independent, making recruitment a slow process.
In contrast, Britain had refined its system:
British naval intelligence maintained detailed records of merchant sailors and fishermen.When recruitment was needed, they dispatched press gangs to forcibly conscript them. Once aboard a warship, escape was nearly impossible.
This allowed the British Navy to mobilize far more quickly in times of war, consistently outpacing France.
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