The British returned in 1896 with a campaign organized from the outset as a major operation. Melik and her sisters were well-built, well-armed river warships designed for colonial policing, though they were smaller and less capable than the Union City-class vessels of the American Civil War. Their primary value was protecting logistics so land forces could move quickly and confidently. Internal paddle wheels offered protection while retaining the shallow-water suitability of the hull. In Egypt and Sudan, command of the Nile was the basis of operational power.
Chapter · 27:24-29:52
Melik turned control of the Nile into operational power
The 1896 campaign used purpose-built vessels such as Melik to protect logistics, accelerate land operations, and turn command of the Nile into regional power.