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.

Tapperheten ran aground off the island of Sandön in 1914, earning the nickname, Fastigheten (Permanence) due to the lack of damage received until the vessel was refloated six months later.

After an upgrade to the anti-aircraft armament, the ship also served in the Second World War before retiring in 1947 and being sold to be broken up in 1952.

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 4 March 1903, the ship achieved 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) at 5,888 shaft horsepower (4,391 kW).

[8][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).

[11][12] On 3 August 1907, the vessel joined with Oscar II and two other ships of the Swedish Navy at a naval review by Edward VII in The Solent.

[13] Four days later the ship led the squadron into Portsmouth where the sailors were hosted by staff of the Royal Naval Barracks and HMS Excellent.

During this time, the vessel was repeatedly battered by waves and yet stayed generally unharmed with all bulkheads remaining watertight and the hull in good condition, gaining the nickname Fastigheten, or Permanence, in the process.

After a short repair, Tapperheten was recommissioned into the coastal defence fleet, the process sped up due to the ongoing First World War.