They were larger, slightly faster, and had improved handling characteristics and significantly more powerful armament.

Her propulsion system consisted of two 3-cylinder marine steam engines powered by ten coal-fired fire-tube boilers, which were vented through a single large funnel located amidships.

[1][2] When steaming at full speed, the ship had a cruising range of 2,343 nautical miles (4,339 km; 2,696 mi).

[3] The ship was armed with a main battery of four BL 12-inch (305 mm) breech-loading guns in twin-gun turrets, which were placed en echelon amidships, fore and aft of the funnel.

As was customary for capital ships of the period, she was equipped with a pair of 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes.

Above and below the deck, coal storage spaces were arranged to provide additional defence against gunfire.

[1] At that time, she joined the new armoured cruiser Imperieuse for a training cruise that included a stop in Vigo, Spain.

During the voyage, Colossus rolled severely in bad weather and took on water through the gun ports in her turrets, while Imperieuse was not similarly affected.

She was assigned to Group 1 of the fleet, which also included her sister ship Edinburgh, the recently completed pre-dreadnought battleship Barfleur, and the ironclads Alexandra, Benbow, and Inflexible, and the protected cruiser St George.

At that time, the capital ships assigned to the fleet included Edinburg, Alexandra, Benbow, and the ironclad Dreadnought.

[9] During this period, on 26 June 1897, Colossus was present for the fleet review held for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

[13] She was paid off in November 1901 and placed in the reserve, her captain and crew transferred to HMS Resolution which took over as guardship at Holyhead.