after the start of the spanish civil war in july 1936, "kersaint" and "cassard" were among the ships assigned to evacuate french citizens from spain on 22 july and later to patrol the surveillance zones assigned to france. after 24 september most of the and destroyers in the mediterranean were assigned these tasks on a monthly rotation as part of the non-intervention policy. the gct reverted to its previous designation of the 3rd light squadron on 15 september. as of 1 october "kersaint", "maillé brézé" and "cassard" were assigned to the 9th dl while "vauquelin", and belonged to the 5th, both of which were assigned to the mediterranean squadron as the 1st squadron was now known. the 9th dl participated in a naval review held by the navy minister alphonse gasnier-duparc in brest on 27 may 1937. the following year the mediterranean squadron cruised the eastern mediterranean in may–june 1938; the squadron was redesignated at the mediterranean fleet () on 1 july 1939.