And even if suitable oak wood was found, it could not be used for shipbuilding the moment it was felled. It first had to be air-dried for at least ten years; the British Navy required fourteen.
This was because timber contained a great deal of moisture. If it was installed directly onto a ship, once it dried, it would shrink, warp, and undergo other deformations. At best, this would greatly reduce the structural strength of the hull; at worst, it would begin leaking and be scrapped outright.
Thus, keel timber for Battleships was a precious strategic resource in every major naval power—one keel alone typically accounted for 5% to 8% of a ship's total cost.
Previously, while relations with Russia and the United States had been good, France had purchased a large quantity of shipbuilding oak wood. But with the adoption of iron keels, it had instead been left gathering dust in warehouses.
Joseph narrowed his eyes and asked the Minister of the Navy, "Aside from the construction needs of the Decisive-class, how many keels and rib timbers do we have left?"
Without hesitation, Marquis Leissard replied, "One keel suitable for a first-rate or second-rate ship, and fourteen keels for third-rate ships. We have rather more rib timber—enough to build at least thirty-four third-rate ships."
Joseph nodded and instructed, "Spread the word that the Navy Department has decided to build fifteen Alexander-class Battleships."
The Alexander-class was France's most advanced pure sailing third-rate battleship, the latest variant of the Dreadnought-class, the benchmark seventy-four-gun third-rate ship.
Marquis Leissard froze for a moment, then said hesitantly, "Your Highness, fifteen may be a little too many. The Navy simply cannot squeeze out that much construction funding. Even if it is spread over three years, we can at most build three additional ships per year..."