Laid down in October 1922, it was launched two years later and commissioned in August 1926.

Souffleur was torpedoed and sunk on 25 June 1941 in the Mediterranean Sea off Beirut, Lebanon in position 33°49′N 35°26′E / 33.817°N 35.433°E / 33.817; 35.433 by the British submarine HMS Parthian.

Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two 2,900 hp (2,163 kW) diesel motors and two 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) electric motors.

The submarines' electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) while submerged and 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface.

Their surfaced range was 7,700 nautical miles (14,300 km) at 9 knots (17 km/h), and 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h), with a submerged range of 70 nautical miles (130 km) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h).