Using normal draught, the boilers were intended to provide the engines with enough steam to generate 8,000 indicated horsepower (6,000 kW) and to reach a speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph); using forced draft, the equivalent figures were 9,600 indicated horsepower (7,200 kW) and a speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph).

[8]Venus was commissioned by Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne in November 1897, and served at the Mediterranean Station.

[10] She was recommissioned in early 1903 with the crew of HMS Australia, whose duties as coastguard ship at Southampton she took over.

During 1906, Venus was frequently used to patrol waters near Alexandria, and was involved in preventing a mutiny at Port Said.

Joined the 11th Cruiser Squadron in Ireland in August 1914; captured two German merchantmen in October and lost her foremast in a gale in November 1914.