Mediterranean duties and the hunt for Graf Spee

Before the Second World War, Algérie carried out Mediterranean cruiser duties and served during the Spanish Civil War. At the outbreak of war she became flagship of the French 1st Cruiser Squadron before joining Strasbourg, Dupleix, and HMS Hermes in the Dakar-based search for Admiral Graf Spee. In March 1940 she accompanied Bretagne as the battleship carried French gold toward Canada, then returned to the Mediterranean. After Italy entered the war she shelled Genoa and performed a final convoy-escort mission before the French armistice curtailed her active career.