I te mutunga o Mei 1940 i kawea e "Béarn" te koura hei hoko waka rererangi mai i te United States, engari i hurihia ia ki Martinique i te French West Indies i te wa o te whawhai a France ki Germany
i hainatia i te marama o Hune. I raro i te pehanga mai i te United States, e manukanuka ana ki nga Tiamana e whakahaere ana ia ki te hoki ia ki Parani, ka noho tonu te kaikawe i reira mo nga tau e wha e whai ake nei. Hei whakangawari i nga Amerikana i whakaae te rangatira o te rohe kia whakakorehia ia i waenganui o te 1942. I whakahaua ia e te kawanatanga o Vichy French ki te patu i te kaipuke i te marama o Mei 1943, ana i te mutunga ka whakaae ia ma te "Béarn" e rere ana.