So I've been mostly playing in the pasfic throughout my time playing this game. I want to start playing the French, I'm wondering what kind of work has been down for them here in the community? Also what are some basic strategies to work with the French. I've had the Richelieu for a very long time. She was my first Battleship, a damm good ship.
There are a lot of aficionados amongst us. Flakstruk and I do a bit of cheerleading for the two clubs (Free France and Vichy, respectively) and we have good times flying the bleu, blanc, et rouge.
Pieces and strategies?
Thanks to the Chase or High Speed Run pieces, you can build several objective rush types of fleets. Mogador, Le Terrible, and Emile Bertin are your HSR pieces and Milan is the Chaser. If you haven't enjoyed Flank Speed yet on Le Fantasque you should. Pluton can Lead the Attack.
Either alone or in concert with those pieces, there are several semi-unique facets to Marine Nationale. All the cruisers except Pluton, Gloire, and Suffren have some sort of initiative bonus so those can add up. France has some undercosted battleships to use to full advantage like your Richelieu and Dunkerque. Beveziers is a pretty nice sub. Every once in a while you can surprise someone with an air build featuring Br. 810, Commandant Teste, and whatever else you want.
The submarine Bévéziers was a game changer for the French Navy in this game. A combo of Richelieu, Dunkerque, Milan, Mogador, Bévéziers and some MB.152s or D.520s for air cover remains very solid, if a little predictable. Low initiative, smoke, subs, and defensive air cover...