The third ship was Massilia, was also built at La Seyne and was launched in 1914, but the First World War delayed her completion until 1920.

[1] In 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War, Lutetia was converted into a troopship in the Transport Force Newport News Division.

[citation needed] In 1915 she was converted into an armed merchant cruiser, then a hospital ship and again as troopship in 1916 transporting Russian troops to Salonika.

The ship was use from 1920 as a running mate with Massilia on the route Bordeaux – Vigo – Lisbon – Rio de Janeiro – Santos – Montevideo – Buenos Aires.

On 7 December 1922 Lutetia struck a submerged wreck in the Gironde estuary and needed to be dry-docked for repairs.