Le Terrible, a Le Fantasque-class destroyer, escorted convoys and scouted for German raiders in the Atlantic at the beginning of World War II. She was later transferred to Algeria to counter the Italian fleet. During Operation Catapult, Le Terrible broke through to Toulon together with battlecruiser Dunkerque. In 1942, the destroyer was transferred to Dakar. The ship participated in landings in Italy and Southern France.