The ship suffered engine problems throughout her career and it needed to be replaced after only two years of service.

[2] Lord Clyde had a very low centre of gravity which meant that she rolled very badly; she was said to be the worst roller in the Victorian fleet.

[6] The engine, the largest and most powerful yet built,[7] produced 6,064 indicated horsepower (4,522 kW) which gave Lord Clyde a speed of 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) under steam.

[1] The severe vibration of the engine, coupled with the flexibility of the wooden hull, caused major problems during the ship's career.

It had a muzzle velocity of 1,420 ft/s (430 m/s) and was rated with the ability to penetrate 11.3 inches (287 mm) of wrought-iron armour.

[11] The eight-inch gun weighed nine long tons (9.1 t); it fired a 175-pound (79.4 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1,410 ft/s (430 m/s) and was credited with the ability to penetrate 9.6 inches (244 mm) of armour.

The ship was commissioned in June 1866 to run her sea trials and completed on 15 September,[15] for the cost of £285,750[16] or £294,481, exclusive of armament.

[17] Commanded by Captain Roderick Dew, the ship was initially assigned to the Channel Fleet where she spent three months as temporary flagship before she was transferred to the Mediterranean in 1868.

Lord Clyde made one cruise with the Mediterranean Fleet during which she fractured her steel mainyard in a squall.

Upon arrival at Plymouth, Lord Clyde was paid off and a new engine was built for her at Devonport Dockyard.

She remained in reserve until 1871 when she recommissioned under the command of Captain John Bythesea, an officer who had won the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War of 1854–1855.

[19][23] The Admiralty ordered that Lord Clyde be only repaired enough to allow for a passage home; that required six months of work at a cost of £417,[19][20] and the ship was escorted back to Plymouth by the ironclad Defence.