The French fleet comprised 6 "modern" pre-dreadnoughts, they had 11 other semi-modern pre-dreadnoughts. They also had 2 turret ships still active but nearing the end of their lives and not fit for the line. The rest of the French pre-dreadnought fleet was mostly laid up or stricken by 1913.
Austrian had 3 modern battleships, 6 semi-battleships that had lighter throw weight but more speed. Italy had 8 battleships in service. Italian and Austrian ships tended to be faster than the French ships.
So the actual battle line was France 17, and the Central Powers 17. The CP also had mass. The French fleet was split between Mainland and Metropolitan France. Armored cruisers saw some action in European waters, but protected cruisers were almost universally colonial service ships. Importantly, France had none of the new light cruiser/destroyer leader ships. The French lead in destroyers is more than offset by the huge lead in ocean going torpedo boats. France can raid Italy, and generate the same bad press that the German's got when they hit the British coast, or they can stay massed and await the threat of a CP sortie into the Med. This threat is why the RN would detail off some older battleships to protect Africa and not have the crews for more escorts.
Austrian had 3 modern battleships, 6 semi-battleships that had lighter throw weight but more speed. Italy had 8 battleships in service. Italian and Austrian ships tended to be faster than the French ships.
So the actual battle line was France 17, and the Central Powers 17. The CP also had mass. The French fleet was split between Mainland and Metropolitan France. Armored cruisers saw some action in European waters, but protected cruisers were almost universally colonial service ships. Importantly, France had none of the new light cruiser/destroyer leader ships. The French lead in destroyers is more than offset by the huge lead in ocean going torpedo boats. France can raid Italy, and generate the same bad press that the German's got when they hit the British coast, or they can stay massed and await the threat of a CP sortie into the Med. This threat is why the RN would detail off some older battleships to protect Africa and not have the crews for more escorts.
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