In November, American and British forces invaded French North Africa in Operation Torch; "Jean Bart" initially helped to resist the attack, engaging in a gunnery duel with the American battleship and heavy cruisers on the first day of the invasion. Hit several times by shells from "Massachusetts", one of which jammed her operational turret, "Jean Bart" was nevertheless not seriously damaged and unknown to the Americans, her main battery remained in operation after damaged armor plate was cut away later that day. The next morning, after engaging the American heavy cruiser at long range, "Jean Bart" came under heavy air attack from American dive bombers and was badly damaged by a pair of bombs. She sank by the stern in the shallow harbor, but her guns remained serviceable.