Service with the Free French French destroyer Léopard

general charles de gaulle inspecting sailors aboard léopard, 24 june 1942

while escorting convoy os33 on 11 july 1942, frigate hms spey spotted german submarine u-136 on surface , made multiple attacks after u-boat dived. léopard joined her, did sloop hms pelican , sank submarine @ coordinates 33°28′n 23°28′w / 33.467°n 23.467°w / 33.467; -23.467. next day léopard collided sloop hms lowestoft , had bow stove in british ship. repaired in south africa in september–october.

liberation of la réunion

commemorative plaque of liberation of la réunion

léopard had been selected convince vichy government of la réunion join free french in june, collision , consequent repairs delayed mission. on night of 27/28 november, arrived off island 80 troops aboard. landed , seized control of saint-denis, réunion, island s capital, although governor fled interior. coast-defense battery engaged contre-torpilleur , fired back, men killed on both sides. vichy hold-outs surrendered on 30th , léopard remained in indian ocean escorting convoys until march 1943.

she briefly refitted @ diégo-suarez, madagascar 13 march mid-april when transferred mediterranean. léopard arrived in alexandria, egypt, on 12 may , screened convoy malta shortly afterwards. departed on 24 may convoy returning alexandria , accidentally ran aground near benghazi 3 days later after aerial attacks disrupted convoy. allies attempted refloat her, failed , wreck broke in 2 on 19 june , declared total loss on 1 july.