The conditions of the armistice envisaged the return of French naval vessels to their home ports to be disarmed; however, the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July convinced the Germans to cancel this plan. The French lost two "Redoutable"-class submarines during the Battle of Dakar on 23 and 24 September; on 23 September was sunk by two British destroyers after having tried to torpedo unsuccessfully; on 24 September "Ajax" was fired upon by several destroyers escorting the British squadron and was consequently scuttled after the crew abandoned ship. In the both cases, the crews were rescued by the British. On 25 September "Bévéziers", under the command of "Capitaine de corvette" Lancelot, attacked and damaged the battleship , which was out of service for almost nine months.