The Fantasque class of six large, very fast destroyers (also referred to as the Malin class) was ordered under the French naval programme of 1930. They served in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 for both Vichy France

Vichy France

Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...

 and the Free French Forces

Free French Forces

The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...

.

The original purpose of these large French destroyers, and the earlier Chacal class

Chacal class destroyer

The Chacal-class, sometimes known as the Jaguar class, were a group of six French navy large destroyers built commencing 1923. Designed as larger, more capable counterparts to the Bourasque class, they set a standard for French destroyer design until the mid-1930s...

, was to operate with battleship and cruiser forces, although they were not restricted to this. The Italian navy, the Regia Marina

Regia Marina

The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...

, reacted by building the Capitani Romani class cruiser

Capitani Romani class cruiser

Capitani Romani was a class of light cruisers of the Italian navy. They were essentially designed to out-run and out-gun the large new French destroyers of the Fantasque and Mogador classes. Twelve hulls were ordered in late 1939, but only four were completed, just three of these before the...

s. Those ships that sailed with the Allies were classed as light cruisers.

There were six ships in the class:

• Fantasque (10, X101, X103, D610)
• Malin
  French destroyer Malin
  The Malin was a large destroyer of the French Navy which served during the Second World War.-History:Malin was launched in august 1933 and commissioned in june 1936....
  
  (9, 8, X82, X102, X02, D612), launched 17 August 1933, effectively destroyed at Casablanca
  Casablanca
  Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
  
  , scrapped February 1964
• Terrible (12, 11, 12, X103, X101, D611), launched 30 November 1933, scrapped June 1962
• Indomptable
  French destroyer Indomptable
  Indomptable was the name of a French large destroyer that served in World War 2.-History:After being launched in December 7, 1933, Indomptable entered in service in the spring of 1936....
  
  (15, 7, X81), launched 7 December 1933, scuttled Toulon
  Toulon
  Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
  
   27 November 1942
• Audacieux
  French destroyer Audacieux
  The Audacieux was a large destroyer of the French Navy which served during the Second World War.-History:Audacieux was launched on March 14, 1934 and commissioned on August 8, 1936....
  
  (11, 12, 11, X102), launched 15 March 1934, severely damaged at the Battle of Dakar
  Battle of Dakar
  The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa , which was under Vichy French control, and to install the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle there.-Background:At...
  
  , repaired, sunk 7 May 1943 at Bizerte
  Bizerte
  Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
  
   by Allied bombing
• Triomphant (8, 9, X83, H02, X104, X04, D613), launched 16 April 1934, stricken December 1954