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 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, 1806Winfield & Roberts, p. 82
Citations
Bibliography Winfield, Rif & Roberts, Stephen S. (2015) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.