Fisher's brother Philip was serving on the training ship , which disappeared somewhere between the West Indies and England, believed lost in a storm. "Northampton" was one of the ships sent to search for her, but without result. In January 1881 Fisher received news of his appointment to the new ironclad battleship . Admiral McClintock commented, "Everyone regrets the departure of Captain Fisher, but I fancy we shall not fully realize our loss until he is gone...Since his nomination to the "Inflexible", his spirits have returned and daily increased, and now he almost requires wiring down." The ship was still building, so Fisher was temporarily appointed to , flagship of the port admiral at Portsmouth between 30 January and 4 July 1881.