[RWebb]

Yes, the French more or less invented modern armor usage and doctrine, but then fell to the combined forces rapid thrust (Blitzkrieg) of the Germans. Of course, then Patton taught the Germans what it REALLY means.

Certainly, the French area major world power. If you exclude them, then you only have 3 or maybe 4 countries left... maybe 5 if we include the Germans.

In modern times, a lot of the fight has gone out of the French. That is not a bad thing.

The carrier was designed to operate with NATO. And... remember you can do a whole of fun things with a carrier group than just project air power.

The point re 3 carrier groups must have meant 2 groups to carry out 24 hour a day bombing as US CSFs can do, with 1 group on rest/rotation/reserve. But, you can project air power w/o 24 ops.