 After commissioning , Kaiser Friedrich III was assigned to the I Squadron of the Heimatflotte ( Home Fleet ) . Prince Henry — the commander in chief of the I Squadron — raised his flag aboard Kaiser Friedrich III . From 15 August 1900 to 15 September , the Heimatflotte conducted a series of fleet maneuvers in the North and Baltic seas . The four Brandenburg @-@ class battleships were deployed to China to assist in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion , so the fleet was greatly reduced in strength . Kaiser Friedrich III and her sister Kaiser Wilhelm II were the only battleships available for the maneuvers . They were joined by the armored frigates Sachsen and Württemberg and six Siegfried and Odin @-@ class coastal defense ships . Throughout the maneuvers , Kaiser Friedrich III was assigned to the " German " force , which had to combat a hostile " Yellow " squadron . 
