The USS Hancock was a 32-gun frigate constructed for the Continental Navy, authorized by a resolution of the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775 and built at Newburyport, Massachusetts. She was launched in 1776 and placed under the command of Captain John Manley on 17 April 1776. The vessel's design and armament classified her as a frigate capable of engaging in combat with other warships of similar size. After a lengthy fitting-out process, Hancock departed Boston on 21 May 1777, embarking on a cruise in the North Atlantic along with the frigate Boston and the privateer American Tartar. During her early operations, she captured a small brig, and her encounter with the British 64-gun warship Somerset showcased her tactical agility; a well-coordinated maneuver by Boston allowed Hancock to evade Somerset after a brief chase. Subsequently, Hancock engaged and defeated the Royal Navy's 28-gun frigate Fox, which lost her mainmast and suffered severe damage before surrendering. Hancock continued her patrols along the New England coast, capturing a British sloop laden with coal east of Cape Sable. However, her fortunes declined during a prolonged chase in July 1777, which culminated in her being cornered by the British frigate Rainbow after a 39-hour pursuit. Outgunned and wounded, Hancock was forced to surrender, with her crew of 239—of whom 50 had already been captured—aboard at the time. Rechristened Iris, she served the British Navy with distinction, earning a reputation as "the finest and fastest frigate in the world." During her service, Iris participated in notable captures, including American privateers and the significant American frigate Trumbull in 1781. She was also involved in the evacuation efforts for Cornwallis at Yorktown, where she was captured by the French under Captain Traversay on 9 September 1781. Subsequently serving in the French Navy, Iris took part in the Battle of St. Kitts and various reconnaissance missions until she was sold in 1784. Her subsequent fate remains unknown, but her career reflects her importance as a versatile and formidable vessel during the American Revolutionary War era.

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