[3][4] The question of introducing similar vessels into the Swedish Navy was first raised by the 1879 naval defense inquiry, but it was not until 1892 that any results were achieved.

The naval war material committee appointed that year emphasized the need for a type of vessel suitable for reconnaissance operations in coastal areas and archipelagos, as well as torpedo boat combat.

The decision was made to honor historical Swedish naval figures, and the ships were therefore named Claes Horn and Jacob Bagge, both successful admirals during the Nordic Seven Years' War of 1563–1570.

The hull was divided into seven watertight compartments, and, along with a 12–19-millimeter (0.47–0.75 in) thick nickel steel armored deck, provided protection for the ship's engine rooms and ammunition lockers.

[4][5] The propulsion machinery on Örnen, Claes Horn, and Jacob Bagge consisted of four cylindrical boilers in two fire rooms that generated steam at 12-kilogram pressure for two triple expansion engines from Motala Works.

The onboard coal storage on Örnen, Claes Horn, and Jacob Bagge could hold approximately 100 tons, allowing for a displacement of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) for 40 hours, covering nearly 700 nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi) or the round trip between Stockholm and St. Petersburg.

Coal was manually loaded onto the deck in "baskets" from barges or the dock and then tipped into the bins using relatively primitive methods.

The 12 cm guns had a relatively high firing rate of 8–10 shots per minute, with an estimated range of about 6,000 meters (6,600 yd).

To defend against torpedo boats, there were four 57 mm guns m/1889 in projecting platforms, known as tambours, on the hull at the main deck level.

[4][5] Claes Uggla ran aground on 22 June 1917, at Ulvön Island off the coast of Örnsköldsvik and was sold for salvage the following year.