From 1777 to 1778, she was under Lieutenant
Bidé de Maurville. During the
War of American Independence,
Subtile served in the Indian Ocean in a squadron under Rear-Admiral
Thomas d'Estienne d'Orves. Lieutenant
Périer de Salvert was in command from 13 September 1780 to 1 November. On 9 February 1782, Estienne d'Orves died and
Suffren assumed command of the squadron. He re-appointed his captains and gave
Tromelin de La Nuguy command of
Subtile. She took part in the
Battle of Negapatam under
Huon de Kermadec on 6 July 1782. In the year 1787, she sailed for a cruise to China with
Résolution (under
Bruni d'Entrecasteaux), arriving on 7 February 1787, two days after
Lapérouse had left. In November 1788, she was decommissioned in Toulon and became a hulk in 1789. ==Notes==