Petit annibal was originally a british ship the hms hannibal built by adams of bucklers hard and launched on 26 december 1779 she was subsequently captured by the french ship hros off the coast of sumatra in 1782 she was called petit annibal to distinguish her from the eponymous 74gun annibal which was in the same fleet admiral bailli de suffren took her into his fleet and she saw service in his five battles against british admiral sir edward hughes in 1782 and 1783 she was decommissi