In 1928, the French Naval Headquarters began developing cruisers to protect sea lanes. The demand for such cruisers was high, and the main requirements were a main battery of 152 mm guns and a displacement of 6,000 tons. The ship project had almost no armor, but it was fast. During World War II, Émile Bertin participated in the Norwegian campaign, delivered gold to the United States, and was involved in the landing of Allied forces in the south of France.