The early Victorian era saw a considerable increase in Britain's colonial responsibilities and, especially after the rather haphazard experiences of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, it was decided to build a group of specially designed steamships which could provide a regular service of troop transportation. The five ships, which were soon to become familiar to generations of British soldiers, were built in 1866 and were named Crocodile, Euphrates, Junna, Malabar and Serapis. Although built in different yards, each was of the same design, dimensions and tonnage, and could accomodate a full battalion of infantry with its married families numbering about 1,200 persons in all. Since their construction was paid for by the Indian Government, the white-painted ships had the 'Star of India' emblazoned upon their bows; in fact, they were all identical except for the coloured stripe painted along each hul which, in the case of Euphrates, was blue, which, in the case of Crocodile, was gold. Crocodile built by Wigram's at Blackwall, on the Thames, was launched on 7 January 1867 and, before the Suez Canal was opened, ran a Portsmouth to Alexandra service with Serapis whilst the other three ships operated the service between Suez and Bombay. Although all five were exactly similar, Crocodile was particularly popular with the rank and file in these early days and she also had a reputation for providing good food. Eventually worn out after thirty years of continuous trooping Crocodile, along with her sisters Euphrates and Serapis, was withdrawn in 1894 and broken up shortly afterwards.