In late August 1940, when Gabon rallied to the Free French side, TOUAREG was at Pointe Noire. She was allowed to sail on 28 August with the colony's Vichy personnel on board, bound for Dakar. But in 16 September she was intercepted in the Gulf of Guinea by HMS DRAGON and taken to Takoradi then to Douala. Later managed by Elder Dempster with a Free French crew. At Capetown on 1 June 1941. Returned to France post-War.