Commissioned in 1896 by the then Minister of the Navy Admiral Beranger after the success of the design by Fernando Villaamil of the warship Destructor, which had given name to a whole typology of vessels.

Armor on the Furor-class ships was non-existent, and although the hull was made of steel, any impact of a medium caliber could (and indeed did in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba) leave them out of action.

Pluton and Furor were present at the battle while Terror had suffered damage prior to arriving at Cuba and had returned to Puerto Rico.

Captain Villamil, in charge of both Pluton and Furor, proposed to launch a surprise night attack with torpedoes but was overruled by the ranking Admiral Cervera.

On the morning of July 3, 1898, behind the protected cruiser Almirante Oquendo, the Spanish fleet attempted to run the blockade and escape from Cuba.