Le Hardi-class destroyers were designed for joint operations with the new Dunkerque-class battleships. In terms of armament, they were on par with their foreign counterparts. All of the artillery—six 130 mm guns—was housed in turrets. Lead ship Le Hardi participated in World War II, escorted French battleships, and escorted transport ships with troops. The crew scuttled her at Toulon on November 27, 1942, to prevent the ship from falling into German hands.