 Captain Alexander William Chisholm-Batten paid off HMS "Resolution" on 9 October and he and his crew turned over to "Formidable" on the following day.In September 1902 she visited the Aegean sea with other ships of the station for combined manoeuvres near Nauplia, and the following year she was escort ship to the royal yacht HMY "Victoria and Albert" when the King visited the Mediterranean.She began a refit at Malta in 1904 which lasted until April 1905, and in April 1908 transferred to the Channel Fleet.