Wood-and-copper sheathing made Marathon, Magicienne, and Melpomene slower but easier to maintain on distant tropical stations. Medea and Medusa spent much of their later service supporting the reserve. Their listing as reserve ships at the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Naval Review makes that role visible in a major fleet gathering. Reserve employment kept Royal Naval Reserve crews trained on real ships and ready for wartime activation.
Chapter · 20:35-21:36
Reserve cruisers as a mobilization and training asset
Medea and Medusa trained reserve crews, while wood-and-copper sheathing traded speed for easier tropical maintenance on the other three ships.