Superb was ordered from Pembroke Dockyard on 15 June 1838 and laid down the following November.
She was launched on 6 September 1842 and was towed to Plymouth for fitting out by 26 April 1845.
Her construction cost £54,979 and fitting out cost an additional £25,313.

After commissioning, Superb joined the Channel Fleet under the command of Captain Armar Lowry Corry.
In February 1845, she joined the Experimental Squadron of eight ships, four of them built by Symonds.
They engaged in three competitive cruises to test Symonds’ new hull designs against older, traditionally built warships.
The whole Squadron was reviewed by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Spithead on 22 June and the trials were completed by December, Superb having proved to be the fastest ship in the last cruise.
Overall, the results were inconclusive and became mired by political wrangling and professional rivalry, with the result that Symonds resigned.
Superb took part in further trials the following year with yet more ships, this time called The Squadron of Evolution.
The whole project was made irrelevant by the advent of steam propulsion and the Vanguard class were some of the last major Royal Navy warships to rely solely on sail propulsion.

In November 1848, Superb joined the Mediterranean Fleet, and continued there until paying off into the reserve at HM Dockyard, Chatham in June 1852.
Superb was broken up in 1869.
Superb was ordered from Pembroke Dockyard on 15 June 1838 and laid down the following November. She was launched on 6 September 1842 and was towed to Plymouth for fitting out by 26 April 1845. Her construction cost £54,979 and fitting out cost an additional £25,313.
After commissioning, Superb joined the Channel Fleet under the command of Captain Armar Lowry Corry. In February 1845, she joined the Experimental Squadron of eight ships, four of them built by Symonds. They engaged in three competitive cruises to test Symonds’ new hull designs against older, traditionally built warships. The whole Squadron was reviewed by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Spithead on 22 June and the trials were completed by December, Superb having proved to be the fastest ship in the last cruise. Overall, the results were inconclusive and became mired by political wrangling and professional rivalry, with the result that Symonds resigned. Superb took part in further trials the following year with yet more ships, this time called The Squadron of Evolution. The whole project was made irrelevant by the advent of steam propulsion and the Vanguard class were some of the last major Royal Navy warships to rely solely on sail propulsion.
In November 1848, Superb joined the Mediterranean Fleet, and continued there until paying off into the reserve at HM Dockyard, Chatham in June 1852. Superb was broken up in 1869.
HMS Superb (1842)