The USS Hornet (1805) was a United States Navy sloop that served during the War of 1812. It was originally a British merchant ship named HMS William, captured by the USS Wasp in 1812 and commissioned into the US Navy. The Hornet played a significant role in the war, capturing British merchant vessels and engaging in naval battles. Notably, it defeated the HMS Penguin in a fierce battle off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, in March 1815. The Hornet was later used for anti-piracy operations and protecting American merchant ships. The ship's career came to an end in 1829 when it was sold and converted into a merchant vessel. The USS Hornet's legacy lives on as one of the many ships that contributed to the United States' naval history during the early 19th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.