  {|    |}  hms defence was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the royal navy, launched on 31 march 1763 at plymouth dockyard. she was one of the most famous ships of the period, taking part in several of the most important naval battles of the french revolutionary and napoleonic wars. in 1811 she was wrecked off the coast of jutland with the loss of almost her entire crew. ==service== during the american war of independence, defence served with the channel fleet, seeing action at the battle of cape st. vincent in 1780. she was sent out to india in early 1782 as part of a squadron of five ships under commodore sir richard bickerton, arriving too late for the battles of that year. but in 1783 she took part in the last battle of the war, at cuddalore. she returned to england at the end of 1785. she was then laid up during the years of peace until the outbreak of the french revolutionary wars. recommissioned into the channel fleet under captain [
1763_ships Bellona-class_ships_of_the_line Maritime_incidents_in_1811 Plymouth-built_ships Ships_of_the_line_of_the_Royal_Navy Shipwrecks_in_the_North_Sea