She was launched on 1 July 1893 at Toulon, France, although only formally entering service with the French Navy in May 1900 after a long series of trials and design alterations.

Initially ordered as Sirène on 4 October 1890, on 1 May 1891 the boat was renamed after Gustave Zédé, a naval architect who had worked on its design, but who died in 1891 following an explosion during the development of an experimental torpedo.

The hull was made of bronze rather than steel to resist corrosion, which also allowed a magnetic compass to operate inside.

Two 360 hp Sauter-Harlé DC electric motors were coupled to the single propeller drive shaft operating at 250 rpm.

In December 1898 Gustave Zédé took part in naval exercises with the Mediterranean fleet commanded by Admiral François Fournier.

The submarine successfully twice attacked the gunnery training ship Magenta, once at anchor and once while the battleship was underway, after travelling the forty miles (64 km) from Toulon to the Îles d'Hyères.

This was the first recorded successful attack by a submerged submarine using torpedoes against a surface target and was widely reported in naval circles.

[3] The British Naval Attaché reported that Gustave Zédé was observed approaching Magenta at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and a distance of 3,500 yards (3,200 m) with four men on the bridge.