Channel patrols, Atlantic duty, and the Gallia rescue

The cruiser began the war patrolling the English Channel with French and British ships despite having been designed to attack trade rather than defend it. The assignment was a mismatch for lightly protected French ships that were better suited to supporting a battle than leading it. Châteaurenault later operated from Senegal against German commerce raiders and joined the search for SMS Möwe, a mission closer to her intended strengths. In the Mediterranean she found survivors from the troopship Gallia after its sinking had gone unreported. Concern that submarines would target large cruisers resembling liners then prompted France to withdraw the division.