Independencia was a coastal defense ship designed mainly for coastal and riverine use, being classified by the Argentine Navy as "Riverine Battleship" (Spanish: Acorazado de Río); in the 1902 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships it was listed as "Coast Service Battleship".

On 27 September she participated in the naval battle of El Espinillo against the monitor Los Andes, which supported the revolutionaries.

In mid-1894 Independencia participated in the naval exercises as part of the 1st Division; later that year she joined her sister ship, Libertad, and the ironclad Almirante Brown.

In December 1946 Independencia was discharged from the Argentine Navy (decree 22.556); however remained in use as submarine tender during 1947-48 at the Mar del Plata naval base.

In 1949 she was transferred to the Coast Guard, to be used as station ship for pilots in the Río de la Plata (English: River Plate).