She was built by the Imperial Dockyard in Kiel , laid down in early and launched in August of that year. She was completed in April Her top speed was She was assigned to the East Asia Squadron.
A month later, the Germans attempted to raid the British base in the Falkland Islands ; a powerful British squadron that included a pair of battlecruisers was in port, commanded by Vice Admiral Doveton Sturdee. This was a result of budgetary constraints that prevented the Kaiserliche Marine Imperial Navy from building more specialized cruisers suitable for both roles. All four members of the class were intended to be identical, but after the initial vessel was begun, the design staff incorporated lessons from the Russo-Japanese War.
These included internal rearrangements and a lengthening of the hull. She displaced 3, t 3, long tons ; 3, short tons normally and up to 3, t 3, long tons; 4, short tons at full load. The ship had a minimal superstructure , which consisted of a small conning tower and bridge structure.
Her hull had a raised forecastle and quarterdeck , along with a pronounced ram bow. She was fitted with two pole masts. Her propulsion system consisted of two 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines that drove a pair of screw propellers. Steam was provided by eleven coal-fired Marine-type water-tube boilers that were vented through three funnels.
Normal coal storage amounted to t long tons; short tons. The ship was armed with a main battery of ten Two were placed side by side forward on the forecastle; six were located on the broadside , three on either side; and two were side by side aft. The guns had a maximum elevation of 30 degrees, which allowed them to engage targets out to 12, m 41, ft. The ship was also equipped with eight 5. She was also equipped with a pair of 45 cm The ship was protected by a curved armor deck that was 80 mm 3.
