 After commissioning in February 1875 , Kaiser spent the spring working up her engines to be ready for the annual summer training cruise . She joined the older ironclads Kronprinz and König Wilhelm and the new Hansa , under the command of Vice Admiral Ludwig von Henk . The four @-@ ship squadron remained in German waters for the entirety of the cruise , which finished with a review of the flotilla in Rostock by Kaiser Wilhelm I in September . The squadron was reactivated the next spring ; Rear Admiral Carl Ferdinand Batsch replaced Henk as the squadron commander . Kaiser served as the flagship of Batsch 's squadron , which also included Kaiser 's sister Deutschland , Kronprinz , and Friedrich Carl . 
