From March to November 1918 he took part in patrols along the English Channel as an ensign on board the torpedo boat Typhon.

As a captain, he was then made deputy chief of staff to France's Far East naval forces at Saigon, where he found himself on the declaration of war in 1939.

After several missions in the Atlantic, he was promoted to capitaine de vaisseau and made commander of Free France's naval forces in the Pacific, with his flag on Triomphant.

Returning to London in April 1942, he was made commander of all Free France's naval forces and national commissioner for the navy.

In 1945, he became a vice admiral and was put in command of France's naval forces in the Far East, where he transported and supported General Leclerc's troops in South Annam and led the landings at Tonkin.