Vasilissa Olgas design was derived from that of the Austro-Hungarian broadside ironclads of the .[1] The ship had a length overall of 249feet long, a beam of 39feet and a draft of 22feet at deep load. The ship displaced 2030LT and was fitted with a single steam engine that drove one propeller.[2] The engine was rated at 1950ihp which gave her a speed of 10kn. For long-distance travel, Vasilissa Olga was fitted with three masts and was barque rigged. She carried 240LT of coal.[3]
The ironclad was originally armed with a pair of 9inches guns and ten 70-pounders, all of which were Armstrong rifled muzzle-loading guns. Later, she had four 17 cm RK L/25, two 17 cm RK L/20, four machine guns and four very small guns.
Vasilissa Olga had a complete waterline armor belt that was thick amidships and reduced to at her ends. Above the belt amidships was an armored citadel that was protected by 4.7inches plates on all four sides.[1]
Vasilissa Olga, named for Queen Olga of Greece, was originally ordered by Chile[2] from the Austro-Hungarian shipbuilder Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, but Greece took over the contract in December 1868. The ship was laid down in 1868, launched in 1869 and completed in 1871. She was rearmed in 1880 and was converted into a gunnery training ship in 1897. During this conversion, Vasilissa Olga was re-engined and her sailing rig was replaced by two military masts. She was scrapped in 1925.[1]