 Hildebrand was laid down in 1890 at the Kaiserliche Werft shipyard in Kiel . She was launched on 6 August 1892 , and completed on 28 October 1893 . Hildebrand participated in the fleet maneuvers in 1894 , alongside two of her sister ships in the IV Division of the fleet . The Division was based in Danzig with some torpedo boats and operated as the German fleet in mock engagements with the I Division , which simulated the Russian Baltic Fleet . In 1897 , Hildebrand again participated in the annual summer maneuvers in the III Division , along with Siegfried and Beowulf . Her other three sisters were assigned to the IV Division . Hildebrand , Siegfried , Heimdall , and Ägir simulated the hostile fleet during the 1900 summer exercises . 
