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

Completed in 1904, 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] Francisque (Francisca) was ordered from the Arsenal de Rochefort on 5 March 1901 and the ship was laid down on 5 February 1903.

[5] When the First World War began in August 1914, Francisque was one of the leaders (divisionnaire) in the 1st Submarine Flotilla (1ère escadrille sous-marins) of the 2nd Light Squadron (2e escadre légère)[6] based at Cherbourg.