The French cruiser Guichen was originally built as 'RN Scipione Africano', an Italian cruiser of the Capitani Romani-class, before being transferred to France as war reparations. After her launch in January 1941 and commissioning in April 1943, she was sent to Taranto, from where she participated in Operation Scylla, during which she sank a British motor torpedo boat, making it the first and only time during WW2 when an Italian warship successfully used surface search radar to sink an enemy vessel. Scipio on official duty carried new Prime Minister Badoglio to the signing of the long armistice with the Allies, after which she spent the rest of the war assisting Allied warships.

After the end of World War II, the cruiser moved to La Spezia, where in 1948 she was removed from the fleet list and renamed S.7 and after being moved to Toulon, she was transferred to France and renamed Guichen in honour of Admiral Luc Urbain du Buexic, Count of Guichen. In 1949, the cruiser took part in the return of the French gold reserve back to France. In 1957, Guichen became the flagship of the Atlantic Light Fleet. By 1963, she was disarmed and used as a training ship. She was decommissioned in June 1976, then sold for scrap in January 1982.

Guichen was introduced in Update "Seek & Destroy" in her 1957 refit. Despite her size, she is best played similarly to an anti-air destroyer. Lacking a sufficient number of high-calibre main guns, she may struggle in a 1v1 even against destroyers. Her role is primarily in second-line defence, assisting friendly vessels with her excellent anti-air and anti-coastal capability.