The design was based on the American Passaic-class monitor, but was modified to suit Russian engines, guns and construction techniques.

The ship was identified as still afloat in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2015, and attempts are being made by the Foundation for Historic Boats and the Russian Central Military History Museum to restore her.

[1] The ship was fitted with a two-cylinder, horizontal direct-acting steam engine[1] built by the Baird Works of Saint Petersburg.

The ship carried a maximum of 190 long tons (190 t) of coal, which gave her a theoretical endurance of 1,440 nmi (2,670 km; 1,660 mi) at full speed.

These lacked the penetration power necessary to deal with ironclads and they were replaced by license-built 15-inch (380 mm) smoothbore muzzle-loading Rodman guns in 1867–68.

[6] Construction of the ship began on 13 June 1863 by S. G. Kudriavtsev at the state-owned Galeryni Island Shipyard in Saint Petersburg.

While assisting with the rigging of a hawser between Admiral Chichagov and the armored frigate Sevastopol, it unexpectedly slid across Strelets's deck, injuring the ship's executive officer and a bosun, who later died of his wounds.

[11] Strelets was reclassified as a coast-defense ironclad on 13 February 1892 and turned over to the Port of Kronstadt for disposal on 6 July 1900, although she was not stricken until 17 August.