She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France.

[2] Laid down by Chantiers Schneider et Cie at Chalon-sur-Saône, France, on 19 December 1927[2][3] with the pennant number NN6, she was launched on 23 May 1929.

[2] Heading east from Oran, she sighted the British aircraft carrier HMS Furious during the afternoon of 8 November.

146 SC/2 of 9 July 1943, the officers and crew of Argonaute received the following citation: "Fully committed to their vessel against vastly superior enemy forces during the events in North Africa in November 1942, [they] showed a total spirit of sacrifice, gloriously lost fighting.

"[2] By decree of 24 July 1944 (published in the Journal officiel de la République française of 1 August 1944), Argonaute′s final commanding officer, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Henri Véron, posthumously was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour.