Laid down by Thames Iron Works and Shipbuilding Company, Blackwall, London, England in 1875, launched on 1 December 1876, completed in 1878, reconstructed by Orlando, Livorno, Italy in 1901, crew mutinied partly in 1913 and fully in 1915, disarmed in 1933 and sold to be broken up in 1935.
Iron made hull. Displacement 2.384 tons (original)-2.972 (after 1901) and as dimensions 61 (between perpendiculars) x 12-14,17 (at the location of the main guns) x 5,8 (maximum) metres or 200’x 40-46’6” x 19’. Aster 1901 was she lengthened with a section of 9,19metres/32’6”. Other sources claims as original dimensions 65.837 (between perpendicular) x 12,192 (maximum) x 5,460 (medium) metres and a displacement of 1.279 tons. The machinery consisted of one steam Humphry, Tenant &Co. engine supplying 3.000 ihp allowing a speed of 10,3-13,5 (trial) knots. In 1901 was the machinery replaced, now delivering 6.000 ihp allowing a speed of 15,5 knots. Barquentine rigged until 1901. Her crew numbered 232-260 (after 1901) men. The iron made armour consisted of a 10cm/4” (ends)-23cm/9” (amidships) thick belt with the battery protected by 25cm/10”. In 1901 replaced by steel made armour. The original armament consisted 2x1-26cm/10,2” Krupp guns in hexagonal barbettes amidships side by side, 1-15cm/5.9” short-barrelled gun astern and 4-9pd anti torpedo boats guns. A source dated 1881 claimed 2-15cm Krupp guns and 3-40pd Armstrong guns. In 1901 renewed by 20cm/8” guns in sponsons, the’15cm replaced by a long barrelled l?45 one and the 9pd guns by 6-3pd guns.
