Sfax's hull, machinery, armament, and protection

Sfax displaced 4,888 tons on a 96.08-metre hull with a 15-metre beam, a 6.77-metre draught, and a crew of 470. Her barque rig supplemented twelve fire-tube boilers feeding two compound engines and twin screws, giving about 16.7 knots under power and a stated 4,200-nautical-mile range at 10.5 knots. Screw propellers remained practical because contemporary metallurgy could produce them reliably, while alternative forms demanded more precisely tempered and balanced blades. Her dispersed battery included six 164 mm guns, ten smaller secondary guns, and eight 37 mm guns. Five 356 mm torpedo tubes fired two forward, one to each broadside, and one aft, though only the broadside tubes remained later in her career. She also carried 65 mm field guns for landing parties. The deck and conning tower had 30 mm of armour, and the sponsons had 8 mm, reflecting the light protection accepted for range and cruiser duties.