 The "Kaiserliche Marine" designed the "Bussard" class in 1888 as an improved version of the "Schwalbe" class; like their predecessors, the "Bussard"s were intended purely for colonial duty.They were larger and faster, with a comparable cruising radius and the same number and caliber of guns, though all but the first ship were equipped with new quick-firing models.The "Bussard" class was also the last cruiser design to incorporate a sailing rig in the German Navy.