Sovereign Order of Malta. Naval Battles-1.

[Anatol]

Battle of Lepanto, 1571.
From 1565 to 1600, the fleet of the Knights of Malta regularly participated in joint operations and all naval battles of the European Christian states—Spain, Rome, Venice, Genoa, Naples, and Parma—against Turkey. One of the tasks of the fleet of the Order of Malta was to provide support for the periodically formed coalitions of naval forces of the Christian Mediterranean powers designed to repel the Turkish fleet. Sometimes, as at Lepanto in 1571, these tasks shifted from support to combat. On October 7, 1571, three galleys of the Order of Malta, under the command of Pietro Giustiniani, participated on the left flank of the combined Spanish-Venetian fleet in the defeat of a Turkish fleet of 240 ships at Lepanto, as a result of which Turkey no longer dominated the Mediterranean.
The Knights of St. John's contribution to the Holy League's naval forces was modest—only three galleys (S. Maria della Vittoria, S. Giovanni, and S. Pietro) out of approximately 211. The three Maltese galleys withstood a terrible assault from thirty Turkish vessels. However, they played a significant role in this battle, occupying a position on the extreme right flank of the alliance's central squadron. When the left flank of the Turkish squadron broke through the gap created by Andrea Doria's careless actions, the Knights of St. John steadfastly held their positions, allowing the Christian galleys to close the breach and prevent the Turkish ships from reaching the squadron's flank. During this battle, the Hospitallers even temporarily lost their flagship galley to the Turks, but subsequent actions by the Christian fleet and the capture of the Turkish flagship nullified this temporary enemy victory. The Turks lost 140 ships and 5,000 soldiers captured, with numerous Turkish ships destroyed and 30,000 soldiers killed.
For over two centuries, the ships of the Knights of Malta patrolled the Mediterranean as naval convoys to protect against Turkish corsairs. The Order was deservedly called the "maritime shield of Europe."
By the end of the 17th century, the Order had become an independent power with a renowned navy. The Maltese naval academy was the best in the world. The sons of many rulers studied there. European monarchs recruited Maltese captains and admirals into their service.
Sovereign Order of Malta (SVMO) 1971; 3,0 tari.
Source: https://wonderfulsail.com/maltiiskii_or ... i_chast_iv.