H.M.S. Superb, originally laid down in 1873 as the Turkish Hamidieh, was purchased by the British Government in 1878 during the international crisis caused by the war between Russia and Turkey. Modified to suit the Royal Navy's requirements, Superb was finally completed in November 1880 and was commissioned into the Mediterranean Fleet as soon as she was ready for sea. Measuring 332 feet in length, with a 59 foot beam, her main armament consisted of 16 10in. guns allowing her to fire the heaviest broadside volley of any British capital ship. She was, in fact, the last and best protected of all the broadside ironclads and despite her 12 inches of armour amidships, she could make over 13 knots at full steam even though her officers declared her "quite unmanageable" when under sail alone. Based in Malta for seven years, during which she took part in the famous bombardment of Alexandria in 1882, she returned home in 1887 and never returned to active service. Last at sea for the 1900 manoeuvres, she was eventually sold for breaking in 1906.