HMS Hannibal was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line constructed for the Royal Navy, launched on 15 April 1786. As a ship of the line, she featured the typical armament and size associated with her class, designed for fleet battles and line-of-battle tactics. Commissioned in August 1787 under Captain Richard Boger, Hannibal underwent several reassignments and commanded by various officers throughout her service. Her early service included cruises and guardship duties, notably at Plymouth, and participation in diplomatic and combat missions during the tumultuous years of the French Revolutionary Wars. In February 1793, she and HMS Hector captured a French merchant ship, Etoille du Matin, and later served in the West Indies, where she was actively engaged in capturing privateers such as Grand Voltigeur, Convention, and Petit Tonnerre, between October and November 1795. She also shared in the prize money from the recapture of Caldicot Castle and the capture of the French privateer Jean Bart. Hannibal’s notable combat engagement occurred during the First Battle of Algeciras on 5 July 1801. As part of Sir James Saumarez’s squadron, she participated in an attack on French ships in Algeciras Bay. During the engagement, Hannibal grounded while maneuvering to support other British vessels and was subsequently captured after a fierce fight that resulted in significant casualties—75 killed, 62 wounded, and six missing. She was then taken into French service, renamed Annibal, and served in the French Navy until 1821. Throughout her French service, Annibal underwent refits and modifications, including re-arming with carronades and alterations in her armament. She was eventually converted into a hulk at Toulon in 1821 and was broken up in 1824. Her career reflects the typical trajectory of a ship of her class, seeing extensive action, capture, and repurposing during the Age of Sail.

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