The combination of greater length (allowing greater hydrodynamic efficiency) and more power gave an increase in top speed from 6 knots in the Cruizers to 10 knots in the Greyhounds.

[1] Their two-cylinder horizontal single-expansion steam engines generated an indicated horsepower of between 743 ihp (554 kW) and 786 ihp (586 kW); driving a single screw, this gave a maximum speed of between 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h) and 10.2 knots (18.9 km/h).

[1] Both ships of the class were built with a barque-rig sail plan.

From 1861 to 1864 she was sent to the North America and West Indies Station, and during her commission from 1865 to 1869 she served on the west coast of Africa and the south-east coast of South America.

She was reduced to harbour service in 1869, and in 1871 and 1872 she conducted hydrodynamic experiments to support the work of William Froude.