Reed objected to this concept, which had the effect of totally preventing the main artillery from firing on any other angle than on the port and starboard beams.

In 1871 Reed stated to the Committee on Designs that he wanted on a turret ship no poop and no forecastle, and masts carrying at most light rig fore or aft on the centre-line which the guns could fire past.

On 29 April, whilst undergoing sea trials, she ran aground off Sheerness, Kent avoiding a collision with a schooner.

No attempt was made to bring her armament up to date, although the muzzle-loading rifles which she carried were by then totally obsolete, and the fitting of breech-loading cannon would not have been difficult.

The four 12-inch muzzle-loading rifles carried as main armament were housed in two pairs in two centre-line turrets on the upper deck, one on either side of the funnel.

During the service she crossed the Atlantic in the company of USS Plymouth carrying the remains of George Peabody, American merchant, financier and philanthropist, to the United States for burial.

She was present and active at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 under command of Captain H Fairfax, firing 125 12-inch (300 mm) shells at the Egyptian forts.

[6] In March 1902 Captain Robert Kyle McAlpine was appointed in command, for service as Naval Officer in Charge Ascension.

[7] Two months later, Captain William Lowther Grant was appointed in command on 5 May 1902,[8] and in July 1902 she was part of a group of seven Royal Navy ships visiting Zanzibar for a show of force following the death of the sultan and accession of his son.