The French destroyer Albatros was one of four Aigle-class destroyer (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s. After France surrendered to Germany in June 1940 during World War II, Albatros served with the naval forces of Vichy France. She was at Casablanca in French Morocco when Allied forces invaded French North Africa in Operation Torch in November 1942. Resisting the invasion, she was badly damaged off Casablanca on 8 November 1942 in action with United States Navy forces during the Naval Battle of Casablanca when she came under fire from the heavy cruisers USS Augusta (CA-31), USS Wichita (CA-45), and USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) and then was bombed by aircraft from the escort aircraft carrier USS Suwanee (CVE-27). Badly damaged, she was beached to prevent her from sin