Lanciere was powered by two sets of triple expansion steam engines fed by three Thornycroft water-tube boilers, producing an estimated 6,000 indicated horsepower (4,474 kW) and driving two propeller shafts.

On 2 January 1909 Lanciere and the auxiliary ships Atlante, Olimpia, Orfeo, and Verde arrived at Messina to assist in rescue operations.

At the time, Lanciere was part of the 2nd Squadron's 4th Destroyer Division along with her sister ships Bersagliere, Garibaldino, and Granatiere.

At the time, Lanciere, under the command of Capitano di corvetta (Corvette Captain) Comolli, was part of the 3rd Destroyer Squadron, based at Brindisi, which also included Bersagliere, Garibaldino, and their sister ships Artigliere and Corazziere.

[9] On 24 May 1915, the day after Italy's declaration of war, Lanciere, Garibaldino, and their sister ships Alpino, Carabiniere, and Fuciliere conducted a patrol in the upper Adriatic Sea.

[9] On 29 May 1915 Lanciere, Artigliere, Bersagliere, and Garibaldino bombarded the Adria Werke chemical plant in Monfalcone, a production site for poison gases, while Alpino, Corazziere, and their sister ship Pontiere provided support.