after the start of the spanish civil war in july 1936, the and destroyers in the mediterranean were assigned to assist french citizens in spain and to patrol the surveillance zones assigned to france on a monthly rotation beginning on 24 september as part of the non-intervention agreement. the gct reverted to its previous designation of the 3rd light squadron on 15 september. as of 1 october 1936 "le chevalier paul", "tartu" and were assigned to the 5th light division while , and "cassard" belonged to the 9th, both of which were assigned to the mediterranean squadron. in may–june 1938 the mediterranean squadron cruised the eastern mediterranean; the squadron was redesignated at the mediterranean fleet () on 1 july 1939.