The sister ships spent about half of the first decade of their careers in reserve and were based in home waters when on active duty.

When the First World War began in August 1914 they were given coastal defence missions on the north eastern coast of Britain.

The engines were designed to produce a total of 16,500 indicated horsepower (12,300 kW) which was intended to give a maximum speed of 25 knots.

The sisters carried a maximum of 410 long tons (417 t) of coal which gave them a range of 2,460 nautical miles (4,560 km; 2,830 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

They also carried eight QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and two single mounts for 18-inch torpedo tubes, one on each broadside.

After the beginning of the First World War, they were assigned to coastal defence duties, Sentinel on the Scottish coast and Skirmisher at the Humber estuary.