The Guinea was laid down at the naval yard at Amsterdam, Netherlands 24 December 1867 as the Matador and launched 30 April or 5 May 1870. Dimensions 59.68/62.68 x 12.25 x 5.10m, and a displacement of 2378 tons (with fully equipment). Draught at trial fore 4,65 and aft 4,80m. Speed 12 knots and 2200 ihp from 2 engines, each with 2 cylinders and totally 4 boilers and 2 screw with a diameter of 3.66m. Coal capacity 150 ton.She was armed with 2-23cm guns and 4-30 pdrs, in 1887 replaced by 1-28 cm gun, 2-7.5cm guns and 63.7cm guns. Armour: belt 76-152mm, gun turrets 2-3-280mm, command turret 114mm and deck 19-25mm. Originally her crew numbered 117 men, later 159 men. Costs while first being fitted out fl. 1.287.891,00. Trial off Texel 16 October 1873, reached 2640 ihp with a speed of 9.5 knots. Not rigged, just two signal masts with a length of around 18m above the deck. She was destined to serve in the Dutch coastal waters and made never a trip to foreign countries. In 1897 sold to be broken up.
