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

Contents

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 taken into service by the Royal Navy when the British captured Malta from France in 1800.

Ship list

Ship nameYear constructedYear of decommissioning
Santa Anna1522Decommissioned in 1540
BeneghemSome time before 1654Some time after 1700
San Giovanni1703Some time after 1703
San Giacomo1703Some time after 1703
Santa CroceSome time before 1706Some time after 1706
Half MoonSome time before 1713Some time after 1713
San Giovanni1718Broken up in 1753
San Giorgio1719Some time after 1719
San Vicenzo1720Some time after 1720
San Antonio di Padova1727Broken up in 1765
San Vicenzo1755Some time after 1720
San Giovanni1720Broken up in 1765
San SalvatoreSome time before 1760Some time after 1762
San Zaccaria1765Broken up in 1803
San Giovanni1768Some time after 1784
San Giocomo1769Some time after 1784
San Giovanni1796Wrecked, 1806[1]

References

  1. 1.Winfield & Roberts, p. 82