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List of ships of the line of the Order of Saint John

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A Maltese ship of the line, constructed during the 18th century
The Santa Anna, the Order's sole ship of the line when it arrived at Malta

Malta was ruled by the Order of Saint John as a vassal state of the Kingdom of Sicily from 1530 to 1798. The islands of Malta and Gozo, as well as the city of Tripoli in modern Libya, were granted to the order by Spanish Emperor Charles V in 1530, following the loss of Rhodes. The Ottoman Empire managed to capture Tripoli from the Order in 1551, but an attempt to take Malta in 1565 failed.

The Maltese navy was small but competent and was constantly involved in naval warfare since its inception. Their greatest achievement came during the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Their independence (and fleet) lasted until 12 June 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte, during his campaign against the Ottoman Empire, captured Malta with little bloodshed, along with the entire remaining Maltese navy. All remaining Maltese ships were added to the French Navy. Some of these ships were later captured by the Royal Navy when they recaptured Malta in 1800, bringing an end to the history of the Maltese navy.

Ship list

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Ship name Year constructed Year of decommissioning
Santa Anna 1522 Decommissioned in 1540
Beneghem Some time before 1654 Some time after 1700
San Giovanni 1703 Some time after 1703
San Giacomo 1703 Some time after 1703
Santa Croce Some time before 1706 Some time after 1706
Half Moon Some time before 1713 Some time after 1713
San Giovanni 1718 Broken up in 1753
San Giorgio 1719 Some time after 1719
San Vicenzo 1720 Some time after 1720
San Antonio di Padova 1727 Broken up in 1765
San Vicenzo 1755 Some time after 1720
San Giovanni 1720 Broken up in 1765
San Salvatore Some time before 1760 Some time after 1762
San Zaccaria 1765 Broken up in 1803
San Giovanni 1768 Some time after 1784
San Giocomo 1769 Some time after 1784
San Giovanni 1796 Wrecked, 1803[1]

Citations

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  1. ^ Winfield & Roberts, p. 82

Bibliography

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  • Winfield, Rif & Roberts, Stephen S. (2015) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2