Built by John Brown, Bacchante commissioned in November 1902 under Captain Frederick Brock and replaced the protected cruiser HMS Andromeda as a Mediterranean flagship. The handover included a captain swap: Brock took Andromeda home, while Christopher Cradock assumed command of Bacchante and remained with the admiral until 1905. The arrangement shows how a flag captain's appointment was tied to the admiral who selected him as well as to the ship. Bacchante returned to Britain and entered reserve after the Mediterranean commission. This early career supplies the personnel and command background for Cradock's connection to the class.
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Bacchante's Mediterranean flagship handover
Bacchante replaced HMS Andromeda as Mediterranean flagship, then passed from Captain Frederick Brock to Christopher Cradock in an officer-and-ship handover.