The weather on the night of 20 June was favourable so Fremantle ordered the First Battle Squadron to sea at 09:00 the next morning, 21 June.[19] The operation to seize the German ships was postponed until the night of his squadron's return to Scapa Flow on 23 June, after the deadline to sign the treaty had expired.[20] Fremantle later claimed that before he left Scapa he had unofficially informed Reuter that the armistice was still in effect.[21]