Like all the 300-tonne destroyers, the Branlebas-class ships had a turtledeck forecastle with a flying deck, raised above the hull, aft.

[4] Two coal-fired Normand or Du Temple boilers fed steam at 1,830 kilopascals (265 psi) to two 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, rated at 6,800 indicated horsepower (5,100 kW), and driving two propeller shafts, giving a design speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph).

The ships had a range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[5] A 20-millimetre (0.8 in) belt of armour was fitted to protect the ship's boilers and machinery.

[4] The Branlebas class were considered good sea-boats, with reliable machinery.