"cassard", named after the 17th-century commander jacques cassard, was ordered on 1 february 1930 from ateliers et chantiers de bretagne as part of the 1929 naval program. she was laid down at their nantes shipyard on 12 november 1930, launched on 8 november 1931, commissioned on 1 november 1932, completed on 10 september 1933, and entered service on 7 october. her entry into service was delayed by six-month-long repairs to her main gearboxes.