While being delivered from Birkenhead to Portsmouth an accident in Mutine's boiler rooms caused some loss of life and gave her a name as an unlucky ship before her career even began.

[1] She was powered by a three-cylinder vertical triple expansion steam engine developing 1,400 horsepower (1,000 kW) and driving twin screws.

[1] She was re-commissioned at Sheerness 28 November 1901 by Commander Claude William Manners Plenderleath, with a complement of 105 officers and men, for service on the China Station.

[7] After successful steam trials in the North Sea, she left Sheerness for China in mid December,[8] arriving at Singapore 4 February,[9] and at Hong Kong 27 March 1902.

[1] After a year operating off the west coast of Africa, Mutine returned to Devonport for a refit in July 1908.