She was posted at Madagascar, under Vichy French control during World War II.

While the other French surface ship, the armed merchant cruiser MS Bougainville,[1] was destroyed along with three submarines during the initial attacks, D'Entrecasteaux managed to dodge torpedoes and escape from the harbour at Diego Suarez.

The sloop managed to avoid damage from various bomb and torpedo attacks and continued to fight throughout the day.

She escaped destruction because her shallow draft allowed her to see the torpedoes pass by underneath.

The British battleship HMS Ramillies fired a few salvoes at her with no effect.