 She was launched on 19 August 1871, after the end of the war and after completing fitting-out, was commissioned into what was now the "Kaiserliche Marine" (Imperial Navy) of united Germany on 16 April 1873.She thereafter served as a tender for the "Marinestation der Nordsee" (North Sea Naval Station), based in Wilhelmshaven.In May, she embarked members of the "Reichstag" (Imperial Diet) during a visit to the port.