 SMS Bussard ( " His Majesty 's Ship Bussard — Buzzard " ) was an unprotected cruiser of the Imperial German Navy , built in the 1880s . She was the lead ship of her class , which included five other vessels . The cruiser 's keel was laid in 1888 , and she was launched in January 1890 and commissioned in October of that year . Intended for overseas duty , Bussard was armed with a main battery of eight 10 @.@ 5 @-@ centimeter ( 4 @.@ 1 in ) guns , and could steam at a speed of 15 @.@ 5 knots ( 28 @.@ 7 km / h ; 17 @.@ 8 mph ) . 
