In 1923 it was decided to convert an incomplete Normandie-class battleship to a carrier. Despite a refit in 1935, she was far too slow for fleet operations in World War Two and was demilitarised in 1942. In 1943 she joined the Free French Naval Force where she served for a time before being converted to an aircraft transport. Béarn was the only French aircraft carrier to serve in the war – of the two ships of the projected Joffre-class, one was cancelled and the other was not completed. —description from the publisher's website