The Germans probably don't need to try and take the ships in North Africa, the French ships were supposed to be returning to France. The relevant Article:
The war was not expected to go on. Germany holds about 1.8m French soldiers who won't be returned till a peace is signed. Once the war looks like it will go on, then perhaps the French could be persuaded to exchange men for ships. There is the Destroyers for Bases precedent as well.
ARTICLE VIII.
The French war fleet is to collect in ports to be designated more particularly, and under German and/or Italian control to demobilize and lay up—with the exception of those units released to the French Government for protection of French interests in its colonial empire.
The peacetime stations of ships should control the designation of ports.
The German Government solemnly declares to the French Government that it does not intend to use the French War Fleet which is in harbors under German control for its purposes in war, with the exception of units necessary for the purposes of guarding the coast and sweeping mines.
It further solemnly and expressly declares that it does not intend to bring up any demands respecting the French War Fleet at the conclusion of a peace.
All warships outside France are to be recalled to France with the exception of that portion of the French War Fleet which shall be designated to represent French interests in the colonial empire
'purposes of guarding the coast' could be a little too vague if the ships are in German/Italian controlled ports.The French war fleet is to collect in ports to be designated more particularly, and under German and/or Italian control to demobilize and lay up—with the exception of those units released to the French Government for protection of French interests in its colonial empire.
The peacetime stations of ships should control the designation of ports.
The German Government solemnly declares to the French Government that it does not intend to use the French War Fleet which is in harbors under German control for its purposes in war, with the exception of units necessary for the purposes of guarding the coast and sweeping mines.
It further solemnly and expressly declares that it does not intend to bring up any demands respecting the French War Fleet at the conclusion of a peace.
All warships outside France are to be recalled to France with the exception of that portion of the French War Fleet which shall be designated to represent French interests in the colonial empire
The war was not expected to go on. Germany holds about 1.8m French soldiers who won't be returned till a peace is signed. Once the war looks like it will go on, then perhaps the French could be persuaded to exchange men for ships. There is the Destroyers for Bases precedent as well.