The engines were designed to produce 17,000 shaft horsepower (13,000 kW) which was intended to give the ships a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).

During her sea trials, Mécanicien Principal Lestin reached a speed of 31.2 knots (57.8 km/h; 35.9 mph).

[2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km; 1,600 mi) at cruising speeds of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

[2] Mécanicien Principal Lestin was ordered from the Arsenal de Rochefort and was laid down on 12 November 1913.

She was initially assigned the Mediterraneand Fleet and was transferred to the Dunkirk Flotilla defending the English Channel in 1918.