Coward to stay on the ship for a cruise on the ship ending on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, Coward finally ending up in Trinidad some time later. Two incidents occurred during this command for which Vian was held to be at fault: damage to Active while going astern alongside a depot ship in Malta and the loss of a torpedo from . However, Vian's commander-in chief, William Fisher, had remained well-disposed towards him, and these incidents had no ill effect on his career: he was promoted to captain on 31 December 1934. On his return to the UK in early 1935, he was told to expect to spend time on half-pay, but the Abyssinian crisis intervened and he was given command of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla (on board ), which had been activated from the reserve to reinforce Malta. Vian returned to the UK in July 1935 at the end of the crisis and attended a Senior Officers Technical Course before rejoining the 19th Destroyer Flotilla. In May 1936, he was transferred to command the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, flotilla leader , also at Malta. In July, 1st Destroyer Flotilla returned to Portsmouth. En route home, however, Vian's ships responded to a call from the British Consul in Vigo for protection for British residents at the start of the Spanish Civil War. His ships acted in various roles, including, after discussion, the evacuation of British residents. When relieved by the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Vian's ships continued home. During a period at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Vian was unexpectedly offered an appointment as Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral Lionel Wells in , flagship of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, then part of the Mediterranean Fleet. He greatly preferred sea duties and gladly took up the new appointment in March 1937. World War II Vian returned to the UK shortly before World War II broke out. An appointment to command the boys' training establishment was cancelled, and he was appointed to command of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla. This flotilla had been recently activated from reserve and consisting of seven old s plus his own ship, , based first at Plymouth then at Liverpool, with the role of escorting Atlantic convoys. There was an ineffective brush with a U-boat. A change in policy required Vian, as a Captain (D), to operate from shore, the better to command his flotilla. Early in 1940 he