In 1903 and 1904, Habsburg and her sister ship Árpád conducted training exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

For most of World War I, Habsburg remained in her home port of Pula, in present-day Croatia except for two engagements.

Her sole combat engagement occurred in late May 1915, when she participated in the bombardment of the Italian port city of Ancona.

After the completion of final fitting-out work, Habsburg was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian fleet on 31 December 1902.

[4] Habsburg was powered by 2-shaft, 4-cylinder vertical triple expansion engines, which were supplied with steam by 16 Belleville boilers.

Habsburg's power output was rated at 15,063 indicated horsepower (ihp), which produced a top speed of 19.62 knots (36.34 km/h; 22.58 mph).

The main armored belt was 220 mm (8.7 in) in the central portion of the ship, where the ammunition magazines, machinery spaces, and other critical areas were located.

[7] In 1910 Habsburg was extensively modernized and lightened: one of her superstructure decks removed to reduce weight.

[11] In late July and August 1914, Habsburg served as the flagship of the III Battleship Division of the Austro-Hungarian navy, under the command of Captain Miklós Horthy.

The two German cruisers were stationed in the Mediterranean Sea and were attempting to break out of the strait of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops and vessels, and make their way to Turkey.

After Italy entered World War I on the side of France and Great Britain, the Austro-Hungarian Navy bombarded several Italian port cities along the Adriatic coast.

During the attack on the Italian port city, Habsburg bombarded the town's train station, the St. Stefano military camp and Ancona coastal batteries.

[4] Following the bombardment, Habsburg and her sister ships traveled back to their port city of Pula.