[3] Repulse was powered by a pair of three-cylinder, vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft.

Her Humphrys & Tennant engines[2] were designed to produce a total of 11,000 indicated horsepower (8,200 kW) and a maximum speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) using steam provided by eight cylindrical boilers with forced draught.

The Royal Sovereign-class ships carried a maximum of 1,420 long tons (1,443 t) of coal which gave them a range of 4,720 nautical miles (8,740 km; 5,430 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[5] Repulse commissioned there, commanded by Captain Burges Watson,[10] four days later to relieve the ironclad battleship Rodney in the Channel Fleet.

She participated in annual manoeuvres in the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean in August as a unit of the "Blue Fleet."

From 19 to 24 June 1895, the ship was part of the squadron that visited Germany for the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal.

Repulse accidentally collided with her sister ship Resolution on 18 July, but sustained no significant damage.

[11] Repulse suffered a mishap on 4 February 1900 when a strong tide forced her to collide with an anchored barge as she departed Sheerness.

[11] Repulse departed England on 5 April 1902 for service with the Mediterranean Fleet,[14] and arrived at Malta two weeks later.

[11] With the refit complete, Repulse recommissioned at Chatham,[11] under the command of Captain Henry Totteham,[10] on 3 January 1905 for service in reserve with a nucleus crew.

[11] Captain Herbert Heath relieved Tottenham shortly afterwards on 27 February[10] and the ship took part in Reserve Fleet manoeuvres in July.