"Vauquelin" was transferred to Algiers, French Algeria, in early December to prepare to escort the damaged battleship back to Toulon in February 1942. After the Allies invaded French North Africa on 8 November, the Germans attempted to capture the French ships in Toulon intact on 27 November, but the ship was scuttled by her crew. She settled to the harbor bottom and took on a list. Little effort was made to salvage her before she was struck by a bomb. Her wreck was broken up in place in 1951.