Dixmude was delivered to the French defence procurement agency on 3 January 2012, three months ahead of schedule.

[8] In October 2018, a French NH90 helicoptor crashed on takeoff when mooring lashing was left tied, and this damaged the flight deck.

[9] In April 2020, the ship operated as part of a joint British, French and Dutch naval task force in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in overseas territories in the Caribbean.

RFA Argus was also present as the UK's commitment to supporting British Overseas Territories along with HMS Medway as the Caribbean guard ship.

The deployment was to involve a series of exercises and port calls en route, including at several French overseas territories.