Calypso was one of two Circé-class submarines built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the first decade of the 20th century.

The Circé class were built as part of the French Navy's 1904 building program to a double-hull design by Maxime Laubeuf.

[2] For surface running, the boats were powered by two German MAN 315-metric-horsepower (311 bhp; 232 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft.

During her surfaced sea trials on 19 February 1909, Calypso reached a maximum speed of 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) from 968 metric horsepower (955 bhp; 712 kW); during her submerged trials on 27 July she reached 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) from 390 metric horsepower (380 shp; 290 kW).

[5] Calypso was laid down in 1905[6] at the Arsenal de Toulon, launched on 24 October 1907 and commissioned on 5 August 1909.