 She was commissioned on 3 October 1880 before work on the ship actually finished in order to transfer her to the "Kaiserliche Werft" in Kiel, where her guns were installed.Sea trials were then conducted, lasting from the end of December to 12 February 1881, after which she was decommissioned and placed in reserve.Her commander during this period was "Kapitän zur See" ("KzS"—Captain at Sea) Bartholomäus von Werner.