Francis Garnier was one of a dozen Bouclier-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

The engines were designed to produce 13,000 shaft horsepower (9,700 kW) which was intended to give the ships a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).

The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,200–1,600 nautical miles (2,200–3,000 km; 1,400–1,800 mi) at cruising speeds of 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph).

The extra weight severely overloaded the ships and reduced their operational speed to around 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).

[1] Francis Garnier was ordered from Chantiers et Ateliers Augustin Normand and was launched from its Le Havre shipyard on 1 October 1912.