Stories of the infamous Templar navy are abound, we hear that they sailed away with fabulous treasure. However, I can't seem to find anything on their actual naval capability. Can someone please provide some information on the naval capabilities of the Templars (as much as you're willing to share, I realize they were around for centuries)? I can't seem to get beyond the white noise and conspiracy theories. I would also be interested in the naval capabilities of the medieval Knights Hospitaller and Teutonic Knights.
If you would be willing to provide some direction of further reading I would also be appreciative. This is not for a project, I am just interested in the history (not conspiracy).
I'm only really familiar with the activities of the Templars up to the end of the Third Crusade and even then primarily in the context of how they fit into the wider Crusader States. I'm not aware of them having any particularly noticeable naval might in that period, though.
If you want to do independent reading I recommend the works of Malcolm Barber. He's written extensively on the Templars including two books: The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple and The Trial of the Templars. Lest you worry about him being a mad conspiracy theorist (a valid concern btw, finding good books on the Templars is hard given all the trash) he is a proper academic with a Ph.D. and was professor at the University of Reading for many years. I haven't read either of his books myself, no time, but they're on my list!