Vaugiraud served on "Couronne" during the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778. He briefly commanded the frigate "Fox" before transferring on "Bretagne" to serve as second major of Orvilliers' squadron. After his promotion to Captain on 4 April 1780, effective on 9 May 1781, he became Major-général of De Grasse's squadron, on the flagship "Ville de Paris". As such, he took part in the Battle of Fort Royal on 30 April 1781 and in the Invasion of Tobago on 30 May. On 22 July 1781, while the French fleet was anchored at Cap-Haïtien, "Intrépide" caught fire, and Vaugiraud managed to have the ship sailed away, ran aground and evacuated before she exploded. Vaugiraud later took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September, the subsequent Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Saint Kitts on 25 January 1782, and was wounded at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782.