During the Spanish Civil War, HMS Gallant—a G-class destroyer—spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. In 1940, the destroyer participated in the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk and also escorted convoys bound for Malta. During one such convoy run, she was damaged after colliding with a mine. Gallant was towed to Malta for repairs, where she then suffered further damage during an Italian and German air raid. The damage was so extensive that it made the ship uneconomical to repair. In 1943, Gallant was scuttled as a block ship in the fairway to prevent possible hostile landings.