Mistral was a Bourrasque-class destroyer (torpilleur d'escadre) built for the French Navy during the 1920s. When France surrendered to Germany in June 1940 during World War II, Mistral sought refuge at Plymouth Dockyard in Devon, England. On 3 July 1940, the British executed Operation Catapult, in which they seized or destroyed French warships in French and British ports to prevent them from falling into German or Vichy French hands. That day, Mistral was partially scuttled at Plymouth during the operation. The British later salvaged her and placed her in Royal Navy service as HMS Mistral. Eventually, the British transferred her to the control of the Free French Naval Forces.