Distribution of French Fleet September 1,1939

North Atlantic (Brest)

2 Battlecruisers- Dunkeque, Strasbourg
1 Aircraft Carrier- Bearn (Note: her dive bombers were not on board, as they were reinforcing the French Air Force on land. She was used as an aircraft ferry)
6 Heavy Cruisers- Tourville, Duquesne, Fosh, Dupleix, Suffrin, Colbert
7 Light Cruisers - Primauguet, Duguay-Trouin, La Galissonnière, Georges Leygues, Jean de Vienne, Lamotte-Piquet, Emile-Burtain
Heavy destroyers- Panthère, Jaguar, Chacal, Milan, Vauquelin, Maillé-Brézé, L'Audacieux, Le Triomphant, Le Fantasque,
Various destroyers and subs (a total of 26 fleet destroyers, 12 light destroyers, and 77 subs split between the three locations)

Western Mediterranean (Dakar)

3 Battleships- Bretagne, Lorraine, Province
1 Heavy Cruiser- Algerie,
4 Light Cruisers- Gloire, Montcalm, Marseillaise, Pluton
Heavy Destroyers- Vautour, Le Terrible, Mogador, L'Indomptable, Le Malin, Tigre, Lynx, Léopard, Guépard, Bison, Lion, Valmy, Verdun, Vauban, Aigle, Albatros, Gerfaut, , Epervier, , Kersaint, Cassard, Tartu, , Chevalier Paul
1 Sea Plane Carrier- Commandant Teste
Various destroyers and subs

Far East (Cam Ranh Bay)

light cruiser- Lamotte-Picquet,
various light craft, sloops, and subs

Once the war started, the French Fleet was split into two forces, a fast raiding force in the Atlantic and a slower force in the Med to counter the Italians. The two forces stacked up as:

Atlantic:
2 battlecruisers (Strasbourg and Dunkerque), three light cruisers, and 8 larger destroyers. This squadron was capable of sustained speeds of 30 knots. Bearn was used to ferry aircraft purchased from the US, and was not considered part of this group even though she was based at Brest.

Mediterranean:
Three old battleships, seven heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, and 50 large and fleet destroyers.

However, when Italy remained neutral, the French fleet was again shifted to reflect the need to protect shipping from German subs and surface raiders. By the end of November, the French had deployed their forces not only at Brest and Dakar, but also to the West Indies.