The Project C variants all displaced close to and thus were not seriously considered, as they exceeded the displacement limits by a wide margin. The designers submitted the A and B variants to Darlan on 19 March 1938 and he chose one version of each for "Clemenceau" and "Gascogne", respectively. As a result, the former would retain the basic "Richelieu" layout, while the latter would adopt an arrangement with one main battery turret shifted aft. Both variants necessitated significant changes to the arrangement of other equipment, including the light anti-aircraft batteries and aviation facilities, but "Gascogne" required much more radical work. The rest of the naval command preferred the B version adopted for "Gascogne" and questioned why Darlan had approved the A variant for "Clemenceau"; he stated that he hoped to be able to lay down the third "Richelieu"-class ship in late 1938 and that the necessary redesign work for the hull interior that the B variant required would delay construction by twelve months at a minimum. The command concurred and authorization for the next ship was issued on 24 August.