In particular the threat came from the battleships, ‘Duilo’ and ‘Dandolo,’ which had superior armament to any ship in the British Mediterranean Squadron. Designed to counter them, the ‘Inflexible’ was a complete departure from previous designs, in armour layout and thickness, gun power and the disposition of armament, and the introduction of electricity. On completion in October 1881 she joined the Mediterranean Fleet and in July 1882 took part in the bombardment of Alexandria, where she sustained the most damage of all the British ships present. She returned to Portsmouth in 1885 and had a refit, when pole masts were fitted to replace the original full sailing rig. She was commissioned for the fleet review of 1887 and for fleet manoeuvres in 1888 and 1889. Recommissioned for the Mediterranean Fleet, in July 1890 she went to the Gibraltar Straits, where she remained until November 1893, and returned to Portsmouth to become the Port Guard ship for four years. She was reduced to fleet reserve in 1897 and to dockyard reserve in November 1901, until sold at Chatham in 1903 for scrap.