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→HM Indian Troopships
Before the opening of the Suez Canal the 'Crocodile' and 'Serapis' ran between England and Alexandria, whilst the other three ran from Suez to Bombay.
By 1894, four of the five naval troopers were laid up while two P&O ships, 'Victoria' and 'Britannia' had a trial as troopers on charter. The two newcomers soon demonstrated that they could make a better job of it than the old naval ships and 'Crocodile' and her sisters were disposed of in 1896<ref>Preece, Nigel [https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/12901967/ HM Indian Troopship Crocodile] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 28 January 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2019.</ref>(or 1894<ref>[https://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/shipinfo.php?ShipID=2942 HMS Crocodile] worldnavalships.com </ref>).
The ships were then designated '''HMT Hired Military Transport'''. During the First World War HMT could also mean His Majesty's Transport, but this use was probably unofficial, as the terminology would officially only apply to commissioned ships.