Its name changed a number of times: Malta's first navy was built when it was under the Order of Saint John.

Eventually corsairing decreased and the Order was weak and bankrupt, so there was little resistance when Napoleon landed on Malta in 1798.

Soon after the British occupied the island, the Mediterranean Fleet of the Royal Navy transferred its base to Malta.

Malta became a hub of naval activity due to its harbours and strategic position, and it remained so during the Second World War and until the 1960s.

In the 1970s, the number of patrol boats increased as West Germany and Libya gave Malta some of their former customs launches.

[1] On 18 February 2015 it was announced that the Emer class offshore patrol vessel LÉ Aoife (P22) would be transferred from the Irish Naval Service as a short term measure pending Malta's purchase of a new OPV.

The Offshore Command operates the Protector-class P51 and P52 and the modified Diciotti class vessel P61, the flagship of the Maltese navy.

The Land Component consists of a platoon strong element which provide assistance to the Malta Police and various Government departments, as well as securing the territorial integrity of Gozo.

The Maritime Component consisted of three crews operating the Bremse-class patrol boat P32 around Mġarr Harbour.