She served in the Baltic during the Crimean War, and as a store ship to Edward Augustus Inglefield's Arctic expedition.

[4] Desperate's keel was laid in October 1845 at Pembroke dockyard and launched, after lengthening for the installation of her propeller, on 23 May 1849.

[6] She recommissioned on 18 December 1852 at Plymouth, under Captain William W. Chambers, RN to accompany Phoenix.

[9] She returned to Home Waters on 20 September 1854 to avoid the winter freeze up in the Baltic.

[6] She served off Mexico, occupying Vera Cruz, after the Mexicans had postponed the payment of indemnities to Britons who had suffered in recent revolutions.