"Alexandra" was featured in the first volume of "the Navy and Army Illustrated" in early c. April 1896 and was then described as a "coastguard ship at Portsmouth" with her principal armament being eight 18-tons guns, four 22-ton, six 4-inch and four six-pounder and six three-pounder quick firers.At this time, she had a complement of 408 officers and men and was commanded by Captain W.H.