Tartu was briefly deployed to Scotland in early 1940 to support the Allied forces in the Norwegian Campaign, but returned to the Mediterranean in time to participate in Operation Vado, a bombardment of Italian coastal facilities after Italy entered the war in June.

During her sea trials on 24 August 1932, Tartu's turbines provided 72,790 PS (53,540 kW; 71,790 shp) and she reached 39.9 knots (73.9 km/h; 45.9 mph) for a single hour.

The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

They were also fitted with a pair of depth-charge throwers, one on each broadside abreast the aft funnels, for which they carried a dozen 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges.

The Navy reconsidered its anti-submarine warfare tactics after the war began in September and intended to reinstate the depth-charge throwers, although these were an older model than the one previously installed; Tartu had not received her as of early 1942.

She was laid down at their Saint-Nazaire shipyard on 14 September 1930, launched on 7 December 1931, commissioned on 1 October 1932 and entered service on 8 February 1933.

Tartu served as the flagship of the GCT, which reverted to its previous designation of the 3rd Light Squadron on 15 September 1936, until relieved by her sister Maillé Brézé on 12 October 1938.

As of 1 October Tartu was the flagship of Rear Admiral (Contre-amiral) Emmanuel Ollive while still assigned to the 5th Light Division together with her sisters Chevalier Paul and Vauquelin.

On 24–27 April, the ship escorted Convoy FP-2 conveying the 27th Demi-Brigade of Mountain Infantry to Harstad, Norway, to join the Battle of Narvik.

The 5th Scout Division returned to Toulon on 27 May as the Mediterranean Fleet was developing plans to attack the Italians in case they decided to join the war.

The Vichy French reformed the FHM on 25 September after it negotiated rules limiting the force's activities and numbers with the Italian and German Armistice Commissions.

The ship was transferred to Algiers, French Algeria, in early December to prepare to escort the damaged battleship Dunkerque back to Toulon in February 1942.