Promising ships ended as damaged hulks at Toulon

Dunkerque was under repair after Mers-el-Kebir when Germany occupied Vichy France in November 1942, while Strasbourg had escaped to Toulon and served as a Vichy flagship. Strasbourg was scuttled there, and both ships later passed into Italian hands before Allied bombing further damaged their hulks. Their active careers were brief even though Dunkerque had commissioned in 1936 and Strasbourg in 1938. While still undergoing trials, Dunkerque nevertheless represented France at the 1937 coronation naval review, showing the prestige attached to the country's newest capital ship. Extensive trials delayed full operational service because France was relearning modern battleship construction after a long gap, with Dunkerque not officially entering service until September 1938 and Strasbourg following in April 1939.