"kersaint", named after guy françois de kersaint, was ordered on 1 february 1930 from ateliers et chantiers de la loire (acl) as part of the 1929 naval program. to keep the workers at chantiers navals français steadily employed, the ship's hull was ordered from that company's caen shipyard. it was laid down on 19 september 1930 and launched on 14 november 1931. the incomplete ship was then towed to acl's shipyard in saint-nazaire to be completed. she was commissioned on 20 september 1933 and entered service on 14 january 1934. her entry into service was delayed for several months by problems with her gearboxes and with one of her turbines.