The cruisers served on neutrality patrols during the Spanish Civil War with prominent French flags painted on them to reduce the risk of misidentification. The markings advertised their national status and warned other forces against attacking them. This could not guarantee safety, but it made the ships' intended position unmistakable. Their 1934 placement with Suffren in the Third Light Division also shows that operational organisation continued to reflect their light-cruiser conception after formal reclassification.
Notable Point · 31:28-32:13
Neutrality patrols during the Spanish Civil War
Large French flags painted on the cruisers marked their neutrality-patrol status during the Spanish Civil War, while their assignment still reflected their light-cruiser origins.