ɪnðɪ ɪnvˈeɪʒən ʌv sˈɪsᵻli nˈaɪn dʒuːlˈaɪ, ˈɔːɹdɹənˌɔːks wʌz ɐsˈaɪnd ɐ skwˈɑːdɹən ʌv toːɹpˈiːdoʊ bˈoʊts tə pɐtɹˈoʊl ðə hˈɑːɹbɚɹ ʌv pˈoːɹɾoʊ ɛmpˈɛdɑːkəl ænd fˈoːɹs ˈaʊt dʒˈɜːmən ˈiː bˈoʊts ænd ɪtˈæliən ˌɛmˌeɪˈɛs bˈoʊts, sˌoʊ ðeɪ kʊd biː dᵻstɹˈɔɪd.
In the invasion of Sicily 9 July, Ordronaux was assigned a squadron of torpedo boats to patrol the harbor of Porto Empedocle and force out German E boats and Italian MAS boats, so they could be destroyed.