 Two submarines, "Aréthuse" and "Argonaute", were ordered as part of the 1953 construction programme, and the last two, "Amazone" and "Ariane", were ordered as part of the 1954 programme.All four submarines were constructed at the Arsenal de Cherbourg in Cherbourg, France.The first two were laid down in March 1955, and the last two in December.