Épieu was a Arquebuse-class destroyer contre-torpilleur d'escadre built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

Completed in 1903, the ship was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron (Escadre de la Méditerranée).

They carried enough coal to give them a range of 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[1] Épieu (Spear) was ordered from Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée on 7 November 1900 and the ship was laid down later that year at its shipyard in Le Havre-Graville.

[4] When the First World War began in August 1914, Épiue was assigned to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (3e escadrille de torpilleurs) of the 2nd Light Squadron (2e escadre légère)[5] based at Cherbourg.