In 1884, the Imperial German Navy started to build up a force of torpedo boats, ordering a number of prototypes from several shipyards, both at home and abroad.

[3] S51 was laid down at Schichau's shipyard at Elbing, East Prussia (now Elbląg in Poland) as Yard number 412,[4] was launched on 28 November 1889 and completed on 12 September 1890.

She was powered by a three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine, rated at 1,571 metric horsepower (1,550 ihp; 1,155 kW), fed by a single coal-fired locomotive boiler, which drove a single shaft, giving a speed of 21.5 knots (24.7 mph; 39.8 km/h).

[11] T51 was still a member of the 2nd Minesweeping Division as the German High Seas Fleet mobilised after the start of the First World War.

[15] Towards the end of May 1915, the 2nd Minesweeping division was tasked with clearing a minefield to the east of Ertholmene where the cruiser Augsburg had been damaged in January.