Commanded by Commander John Edward Stokes on 12 March 1879.
On 31 August 1880 the Tyne is shown delivering personnel to HMS London in Zanzibar.[citation needed].
In October 1886, she ran aground at Sheerness, Kent. She was refloated and found to be undamaged.[4] In May 1902 she was at Malta, on her way to the China station with a new crew for Hermionee.[5] In early January 1903 she was back in the Mediterranean, and took part in a three-weeks cruise with other ships of the station in the Greek islands around Corfu.[6]
In February 1913, Tyne was serving as one of two depot ships for the 8th Patrol Flotilla, based on the Nore, which was equipped with 23 torpedo boats,[7][8] and remained as depot ship to the 8th Flotilla in July 1914.[9]