"vauquelin" and the other two , and originally based in beirut, sailed on 29 june, bound for thessaloniki in axis-controlled greece. they loaded 450 men from a battalion of algerian light infantry () and of supplies as reinforcements for lebanon. the ships departed on 5 july, but were spotted by a british reconnaissance aircraft en route and returned to thessaloniki on the 9th in accordance with their orders to turn back if spotted. all three arrived at toulon on 22 july.