Two years later, the passenger ship SS Utopia sank with the loss of 562 lives after colliding with Anson in the Bay of Gibraltar.

[1] Anson and her sister ship, Camperdown, were enlarged and improved versions of the previous pair of Admirals, Rodney and Howe.

[2] The ships carried a maximum of 1,200 long tons (1,219 t) of coal that gave 7,200 nmi (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[7] The secondary armament of the Admirals consisted of six 26-calibre BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk IV guns on single mounts positioned on the upper deck amidships, three on each broadside.

They fired 100-pound (45 kg) shells that were credited with the ability to penetrate 10.5 inches (267 mm) of wrought iron at 1000 yards.

The compound armour belt extended across the middle of the ships between the rear of each barbette for a length of 150 feet (45.7 m).

[11] The ship was laid down at Pembroke Dockyard on 24 April 1883, launched on 17 February 1886 and was delivered at Portsmouth in March 1887, complete except for her main armament, at a cost of £662,582.

[12] On 17 March 1891, the passenger steamer SS Utopia was accidentally blown onto the ram of the anchored Anson during a strong gale in the Bay of Gibraltar.

562 of Utopia's passengers and crew and two rescuers from the armoured cruiser Immortalité were killed in the accident.

She served as guard ship at Queensferry under Captain William Fisher in 1902,[14] and took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.