"Hogue", named after the 1692 Battle of La Hogue, was laid down on 14 July 1898 by Vickers, Sons & Maxim at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and launched on 13 August 1900. She arrived at Plymouth to begin fitting out in September 1901, and commenced her sea trials in early December. "Hogue" was completed in late Autumn the following year, and commissioned at Devonport on 19 November 1902 by Captain John Locke Marx. She was assigned to the Channel Squadron. On 11 March 1904 she collided with the merchant ship off Europa Point. Later that year she was transferred to the China Station after a refit.