During her full power steam trials her engine generated 428 indicated horsepower (319 kW) for a speed of 10.074 knots (18.657 km/h).

[2] Her first commission was on 12 December 1844 at Woolwich under Commander Henry Smith, RN (promoted to Captain on 27 June 1846).

On 3 April 1845 the Admiralty held a demonstration on the power of the screw propeller over the paddle wheel.

The results were only to demonstrate to skeptics the soundness of the Admiralty's decision to use the propeller over the paddle wheel.

[7] A large number of propellers were also tested on Rattler during this period to find the most effective screw design.

On 29 August 1846, while serving with the Squadron of Evolution, she ran aground at Lisbon, Portugal; she was refloated.

[2] On 28 August 1851 she was commissioned for service on the East Indies Station under Commander Arthur Mellersh, RN at Woolwich.

In March 1853, Rattler struck a sunken rock at Amoy, China and was severely damaged.

She was beached at Tae-tan (today's Dadan Island, Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian, Republic of China (Taiwan)) for repairs.

On 5 April 1855 she was under Commander William Abdy Gellows, RN for service in China and the East Indies.

On 4 August 1855, Rattler, HMS Eaglet, and the USS Powhatan fought a naval battle near Tai O village, Lantau, with Chinese pirates.