H.M.S. Defence
1763
(Aquarius AQ-2051a)
- Class: Arrogant 3rd rate (3m) 74 gun
- Displacement: 1,603 bm tons
- Dimensions: 168 x 47 x 20 ft
- Armament: 28 x 32pdr, 28 x 18pdr, 18 x 9pdr
- Complement: 550
- Designer: Sir Thomas Slade
- Built: Plymouth Dockyard, England
- Keel laid: 14 May 1759
- Launched: 31 March 1763
- Service: Part of Adm Sir Edward Hughes' fleet at the battle of Cuddalore, India, 20 Jun 1782, against Suffren. At the Glorious First of June, 1794, as part of Adm Lord Howe's Channel Fleet, she broke the French line under Villaret-Joyeuse. With Adm Sir John Jervis at the Battle of Cape Vincent, 14 Feb 1797 against the Spanish fleet under Cordoba. Then part of Adm Horatio Nelson's fleet at the Battle of the Nile, 1 Aug 1798 and at the Battle of Copenhagen, 2 Apr 1801, as part of Adm Sir Hyde Parker's squadron. Under Capt George Hope, she sailed as part of Adm Collingwood's lee column at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct 1805, where she engaged the French Berwick and forced the surrender of the Spanish San Ildefonso. Later detailed to the Baltic Fleet, she was returning to Britain when she ran aground and foundered on the Danish coast, 24 Dec 1811; only five survived.
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