The USS Hornet was a 10-gun sloop-of-war of the Continental Navy, constructed in Bermuda and commissioned into service in early 1776. Displacing approximately 100 tons, the vessel was armed with ten naval long guns and four swivel guns, and her crew numbered around thirty-five sailors. Her construction and early service are closely linked to the efforts of the Continental Congress and the naval activities of the American Revolution. Initially chartered from Captain William Stone in December 1775, the Hornet was part of the fleet assembled under Commodore Esek Hopkins. Records suggest she was acquired by the Continental Congress between December 2 and 18, 1775, and was officially commissioned into the Continental Navy on February 13, 1776, joining the fleet at Philadelphia. She participated in early naval operations, including sailing with Hopkins’ fleet on February 18, 1776, although she was unable to support the amphibious assault on New Providence due to an encounter with USS Fly. Throughout 1776, Hornet patrolled the Delaware Bay and was involved in convoy operations, notably escorting merchant ships past the British blockade to Charleston. Her service was marked by her active participation in the Revolutionary War’s naval engagements, although her operational history was relatively short. In April 1777, the Hornet was captured by the British Royal Navy schooner Porcupine off the coast of the Caribbean, at approximately latitude 22.5° N and longitude 70° W. The engagement lasted about three-quarters of an hour, with over fifty shots exchanged. After her capture, the Hornet was taken to Jamaica, where she was found to be leaking and was subsequently condemned. She was appraised at £2,443.12, including cargo, stores, and gunpowder. The USS Hornet’s service history highlights her role in the early American naval efforts, her engagement in the Revolutionary War, and her ultimate capture and condemnation, marking her as a notable vessel in the formative years of the United States Navy.

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