Arrived at Isle the France, "Ajax" joined Suffren's squadron. At the Battle of Sadras, on 17 February 1782, Suffren ordered "Ajax" and "Flamand", under Cuverville, to attack the British line to leeward. They both maneuvered to this effect, but then Tromelin, on "Annibal", countermanded the order by signaling "Ajax" and "Flamand" to return to their post in the line of battle. While "Ajax" obeyed the order, "Flamand" sailed on and Saint-Félix, of "Brillant", requested permission to replace "Ajax". After the battle, Suffren apologised to Bouvet for the confusion in his orders that had frustrated him from a prime role in the battle, promising to make up for it at the next occasion.