[1] The ship's machinery, built by Harland & Wolff,[3] consisted of two horizontal compound steam engines rated at 4,500 indicated horsepower (3,400 kW), which were fed by four boilers and drove two shafts for a speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph).

[1] 475 tons of coal were carried, sufficient to give a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi),[3] and three masts were fitted.

[3] On 8 November 1890, Serpent left Devonport to relieve the sloop Acorn on the West African Station.

[3] On the night of 10 November, Serpent was caught in a heavy storm in the Bay of Biscay and attempted to reach shelter, but ran aground on Cape Vilan near the village of Camariñas in Galicia, northwest Spain.

43°07′19″N 9°11′31″W / 43.122°N 9.192°W / 43.122; -9.192 The anchor was located in 2024 adorning a house in Muxía (La Coruña), though it was recovered from the sea about 25 years previously.