She was under construction for ten years, compared to eight for "Friedrich der Grosse" and just six for "Preussen". After her commissioning in July 1876, "Preussen" served with the fleet. She joined a squadron sent to the Mediterranean Sea in 1877 in response to unrest in the Ottoman Empire related to the Russo-Turkish War; the violence threatened German citizens living there. The squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Carl Ferdinand Batsch, steamed to the ports of Haifa and Jaffa in July 1877, but found no significant tensions ashore. Batsch then departed and cruised the Mediterranean for the remainder of the summer, returning to Germany in October. By May 1878, all three "Preussen"-class ships were ready for the annual summer maneuvers of the armored squadron. The three ships were joined by the large armored frigate "König Wilhelm", and operated under the command of Rear Admiral Batsch. "Friedrich der Grosse" missed the maneuvers after running aground off Nyborg, leaving Batsch just three vessels. While steaming in the English Channel on 31 May, "König Wilhelm" accidentally rammed "Grosser Kurfürst"; the latter quickly sank with the loss of between 269 and 284 men. Her loss spurred a series of investigations into the circumstances of the collision, which ultimately resulted in the acquittal of both Batsch, the squadron commander, and Count Alexander von Monts, the captain of "Grosser Kurfürst". Political infighting over the affair led to ouster of Rear Admiral Reinhold von Werner from the navy. "Preussen" and "Friedrich der Grosse" remained in the armored squadron for the training cruises starting in 1879 through 1883, when they were put into reserve and replaced by newer vessels, including the four s. The two ships were reactivated in 1889 to participate in cruises following the coronation of Kaiser Wilhelm II. These included a state visit to Great Britain in August 1889 and a tour of the Mediterranean in the winter of 1889–1890. The two ships resumed their duties in the training cycles into the early 1890s. Although "Preussen" was withdrawn from active service in 1891, "Friedrich der Grosse" continued to serve until the end of 1894. Upon leaving active duty, both ships were used in secondary roles as harbor ships and later as coal hulks for torpedo boats. They were both ultimately sold for scrapping in 1919 following the end of World War I.