HMS Hannibal was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Adams of Bucklers Hard and launched on 26 December 1779.

In October 1781, off Cape of Good Hope, Hannibal encountered the French frigate Bellone, escorting the transports Neker and Sévère.

[1] On 7 December 1781, a French fleet under d'Orves sortied Isle de France, with 11 ships of the line, 3 frigates and 3 corvettes.

[Note 1] Lieutenant de Ruyter, first officer of Héros,[3] was given command; all the warships in the French fleet were required to contribute personnel to constitute Annibal's crew.

She came within pistol range of his opposite number, HMS Eagle (Captain Reddel) before opening fire.