She was designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide firepower against land objectives.

She is the eighth French vessel named after the 17th century admiral Abraham Duquesne.

Ships of the Suffren class were designed as anti-air and anti-submarine escorts for the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers and were similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer.

[4][5] Duquesne was powered by four multi-tube, automatic control boilers creating steam for two sets of Rateau double-reduction geared turbines turning two propellers.

[4] The Suffren class were armed with a twin launcher situated on the quarterdeck for the Masurca surface-to-air missile.

Furthermore, the Suffren class had four launchers for L5 torpedoes, two to each side of the ship, housed in the deckhouse between the mast and the bridge.

[1] Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar for air search/tracking housed in a massive radome that dominated the ship's silhouette.

Additionally four single-mounted 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon were fitted two to each side of the ship abaft the DRBC 33A radar.

[6] Duquesne accompanied the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers on deployments and as a result was based with them as part of the French Atlantic Fleet upon entering service.

In 1975, when the Clemenceaus were transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, Duquesne later joined them and was based at Toulon beginning in 1977.