HMS Hyaena was a 24-gun Porcupine-class post-ship of the Royal Navy, launched in March 1778. Constructed as a ship of moderate size, she was heavily involved in various service roles during her career. Commissioned in January 1779 under Captain Edward Thompson, Hyaena saw active duty in British home waters and the Caribbean, notably participating in the blockade and capture of French-controlled Gorée in April 1779. She also took part in Admiral George Rodney's fleet operation to Gibraltar in January 1780, and later escorted merchant convoys to New York and the Caribbean, including efforts to secure British control over Dutch settlements of Demerara and Essequibo. After returning to England in January 1782, Hyaena underwent extensive repairs at Woolwich dockyards, costing over £5,500. She remained in service in various capacities, including protecting shipping around the British Isles, escorting the First Fleet to Australia in 1787, and serving as an impressment vessel at Bristol. Her duties shifted multiple times, reflecting her versatility as a naval asset. In 1793, Hyaena was engaged off Hispaniola where she was captured by the French frigate Concorde after a chase, and subsequently renamed Hyène. The French modified her by removing her quarterdeck and forecastle to create a flush-deck vessel. As Hyène, she was used as a privateer in the Caribbean until her capture by HMS Indefatigable in October 1797 after an eight-hour chase. She was then taken to Plymouth, where her armament was upgraded from nine-pounder guns to twenty 32-pounder carronades. Recommissioned in 1798 as Hyaena, she served in the English Channel and Mediterranean, participating in various patrols and expeditions until her decommissioning and sale in February 1802. Purchased by Daniel Bennett, she was renamed Recovery and transitioned into whaling activities, making seven voyages in the southern whale fishery between 1802 and 1813. She was eventually broken up in 1813, ending her varied and notable maritime career.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.