While in Toulon harbor on 29 December 1880, "Richelieu" caught fire and had to be scuttled to prevent her magazines from exploding. The ship capsized to port in of water; she lay on her barbettes almost at a 90° angle. In order to salvage her, all accessible guns, ammunition, masts, armor and movable decks were removed and the equivalent weight was placed in the ship's holds to lower her center of gravity. A sheer hulk was moved to her port side and cables were connected to on the other side of "Richelieu". 360 empty casks and of cork were attached to the starboard side to prevent the ship from rolling too far the other way. After an hour and a half of lifting, "Richelieu" had been righted to a 45° angle; a subsequent effort completed the job.