The design was considered advanced for its time, and it was the first class of vessels for the Norwegian Navy that used aluminium in the construction of the bridge, the mast and the outer funnel.

Sleipner, the lead ship of the class, carried just two 10 cm guns and could not elevate them for use as anti-aircraft weapons.

Although classified by the Norwegians as destroyers they have been widely regarded as torpedo boats because of their displacement and armament.

Balder and Tor were captured unfinished at the shipyard and put into German service after completion.

The Germans re-classed the ships as Torpedoboot Ausland and renamed them: Gyller to Löwe, Odin to Panther, Balder to Leopard, and Tor to Tiger.