Which Assassin's Creed game first introduced dedicated naval missions?

Assassin's Creed III first introduced dedicated naval missions to the Assassin's Creed series.

Released in 2012, the game lets Connor command the Aquila in missions involving ship-to-ship combat. Players steer the vessel, use cannons and swivel guns, manage positioning, and fight through weather and dangerous waters. These sequences were distinct missions rather than merely travel between locations.

The naval system was developed further in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released in 2013. Black Flag made sailing and naval combat central to the experience by giving Edward Kenway the Jackdaw and making the Caribbean a major open-world region. Because Black Flag is more strongly associated with piracy, it is often mistakenly credited with introducing naval gameplay to the franchise.

Assassin's Creed Rogue also expands naval exploration, but it came after both games. The key distinction is between first introducing dedicated naval missions and later turning naval travel into a dominant gameplay feature.