A development of Dristigheten, the Äran class mounted the same 21 cm (8.3 in) main guns, but differed in the layout of the secondary armament.

The warship served on neutrality patrols in the First World War and was damaged after running aground in 1932.

[5] Eight Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of triple-expansion steam engines provided by Motała AB and rated at 5,500 shaft horsepower (4,100 kW) driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).

A full load of 300 long tons (300 t) of coal was carried, which gave a design range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[6] During sea trials, on 21 August 1902, the vessel achieved 16.87 knots (31.24 km/h; 19.41 mph) at 5,913 shaft horsepower (4,409 kW).

[7][6] Armament consisted of two single Bofors 21 cm (8.3 in) guns mounted in turrets on the ship's centreline, one fore and the other aft.

Each of the guns weighed 10.90 tonnes (10.73 long tons) and could fire a 125 kg (276 lb) shell at a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s).

[8] Secondary armament consisted of six Bofors 15 cm (5.9 in) guns mounted singularly in turrets amidships.

[10] Delivery had been delayed by three months because, on 23 January 1900, it had been decided to equip the vessel as a flagship, so additional accommodation was fitted for a flag officer and the attendant staff required to serve in this role.

However, complaints from a prelate that breaking wine of a ship was sacrilegious meant that this was the last time this ceremony was performed.

[11] On 30 April 1932, the warship ran aground in the Stockholm Archipelago, damaging the steering gear so badly that the ship slewed 90 degrees.

Particularly, it was considered that the main armament, which had a daytime range of 9,000 m (30,000 feet) but only 2,000 m (6,600 ft) at night, would be easily outranged by modern German and Soviet guns.