The Lagrange-class submarines were constructed as part of the French fleet's expansion programmes from 1913 to 1914.

[1][2] The ships were designed by Julien Hutter, slightly modifying his previous project Dupuy de Lôme, using two Parsons steam turbines with a power of 2,000 hp (1,491 kW).

[3] During construction, though, the idea was abandoned and the ships were instead equipped with diesel engines.

The class was also armed with a 75 mm gun with an ammo supply of 440 shells.

It was named in honor of the distinguished French nineteenth-century chemist Henri Victor Regnault and was assigned the pennant number Q113.