Completed in 1887, Greif was not commissioned until 1889, though she remained in service with the fleet only until October 1890, when she was assigned with torpedo testing, a role she filled until 1894 when she was decommissioned.

Recommissioned in May 1897, she served as a fleet scout for the next two years, thereafter being reduced to secondary roles once again, including as a training ship, before being decommissioned for the last time in September 1900.

This led to the development in France of the Jeune École doctrine that emphasized the use of cheap torpedo boats and cruisers instead of expensive ironclads.

As other navies, including Germany's, began to adopt the strategy, German planners saw the need for small warships capable of defending the fleet against attacking torpedo boats.

[4] Greif's propulsion system consisted of two horizontal 2-cylinder double expansion engines built by AG Germania, which drove a pair of four-bladed screw propellers that were 4 m (13 ft) wide in diameter.

[4] Unlike the other avisos built by the German navy, which carried torpedo tubes as their primary armament, Greif was armed only with guns.

She was launched on 29 July 1886 and her christening was performed by Vizeadmiral (VAdm—Vice Admiral) Wilhelm von Wickede, the commander of the Marinestation der Ostsee (Baltic Sea Naval Station).

She operated primarily off the East Frisian Islands during this period, though her duties to protect German territorial waters were interrupted from mid-March to mid-April to escort the screw corvette Alexandrine, which had Kaiser Wilhelm II aboard.

Alexandrine was on her way to an overseas deployment, and Wilhelm II also wanted to greet the training squadron corvettes, which were returning from their cruise in the Mediterranean Sea.

Greif again accompanied the Kaiser, this time aboard his yacht Hohenzollern on a cruise from 24 June to 10 August that saw the ships steam as far north as Nordkapp, Norway and then to Cowes, Britain.

This work was interrupted on 2 April 1891 when Greif embarked Wilhelm II to greet the screw corvette Carola, then returning from German East Africa, where the Abushiri revolt had recently been suppressed.

The year 1892 passed uneventfully, with the only event of note being Greif's participation in the fleet training maneuvers from 30 August to 5 September.

Following their conclusion, Greif embarked Prince Heinrich of Prussia on 22 September; the torpedo boat S26 had sunk in a severe storm in the mouth of the Elbe that day.

Aboard had been Duke Friedrich Wilhelm zu Mecklenburg [de] and Heinrich had wanted to take part in the search and salvage effort.

While the divisional flagship, Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm, was in dock for repairs, Greif served in her place from 29 December to 20 February 1898 with VAdm August von Thomsen aboard.

At the end of the month, she was reassigned to II Division, thereafter participating in the summer and autumn maneuvers that took place in the North and Baltic Seas.