"chevalier paul" radioed for help, and the vichy french destroyers and departed beirut an hour later to come to her aid, but were almost immediately intercepted by the new zealand light cruiser and the destroyers and and forced to retire to beirut. after french aircraft drove off the allied ships, "valmy" and "guépard" again set out to assist "chevalier paul", but they were too late, the ship sank at 06:45 off the coast of syria. "valmy" and "guépard" rescued her all of her crew, except seven missing men, and the crew of the downed swordfish.