The Marathon Cruisers were ordered under the naval programme of 1887, similar to the Mersey class except smaller,  HMS Melpomene, Magicienne and HMS Marathon were built for foreign (tropical) service and were built with a sheath of Wood and copper. which added extra weight to the displacement. causes a slight loss if speed. some bad points for the crew was the lack of accommodation space and also small boiler rooms giving the stockers cramped working conditions.  they also never achieved their designed speed. 

HMS Marathon.  Built at Fairfield at Govan, on the Clyde, laid down on the 10th August 1887 and launched 23rd August 1888 being completed in 1889.

HMS Magiciene.  Built at Fairfield at Govan, on the Clyde, laid down on the 10th August 1887 and launched 12th May 1888 being completed in 1889.

HMS Medea,  Built at Chatham Naval Dockyard,   laid down on the 25th April 1887 and launched 9th June 1888 being completed in 1889

HMS Melpomene,  Built at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard,   laid down on the 10th October 1887 and launched 20th September 1888 being completed in 1890

HMS Medusa,  Built at Chatham Naval Dockyard,   laid down on the 25th August 1887 and launched 11th August 1888 being completed in 1889

Displacement: 2800 tons,  /sheathed cruisers 2950 tons,  Speed: 20 knots.  Crew 218   Armament: Six  6-inch guns,  Nine 6 pdr quick firing guns, One 3 pdr, and three machine guns  Two Torpedo Tubes

HMS Marathon

HMS Marathon.  Built at Fairfield at Govan, on the Clyde, laid down on the 10th August 1887 and launched 23rd August 1888 being completed in 1889.

Displacement:   2950 tons,  Speed: 19.75 knots.  Crew 218   Armament: Six  6-inch guns,  Nine 6 pdr quick firing guns, One 3 pdr, and three machine guns  Two Torpedo Tubes

HMS Marathon.

HMS Magiciene.  Built at Fairfield at Govan, on the Clyde, laid down on the 10th August 1887 and launched 12th May 1888 being completed in 1889.

Displacement:   2950 tons,  Speed: 19.75 knots.  Crew 218   Armament: Six  6-inch guns,  Nine 6 pdr quick firing guns, One 3 pdr, and three machine guns  Two Torpedo Tubes

HMS Magicienne pictured pre 1896

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HMS Magicienne, March, 1896

HMS Medea.

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HMS Melpomene,  Built at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard,   laid down on the 10th October 1887 and launched 20th September 1888 being completed in 1890

Displacement:   2950 tons,  Speed: 19.75 knots.  Crew 218   Armament: Six  6-inch guns,  Nine 6 pdr quick firing guns, One 3 pdr, and three machine guns  Two Torpedo Tubes

HMS Melpomene, one of the Marathon Class cruisers whose sister ships included Magicienne, Marathon, Medea and Medusa. Photograph taken c.1904. 

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