Korean "Turtle Boat"
In
1597, Admiral Yi Sun Shin defeats the Japanese fleet of 133 ships with
12 ships in one of the most stunning naval battles in history.
The Imjin war was caused by Japanese ambitions to penetrate into
mainland China. In 1592, Hideyoshi the unifyer of Japan sent 160,000
men onto the Korean penninsula, one of the biggest maritime invasions
since the Mongol's. This force was eventually defeated by the Chinese
and Koreans. During this time, the Korean Admiral Yi Sun sin gained
fame for his outstanding tactics in naval warfare. However, the
Japanese had a cunning plan to use a spy to infiltrate the Korean chain
of command. The agent was able to stir up tension among the Koreans and
as a result, Admiral Yi was stripped of his command and tortured by the
Korean General.
Meanwhile, in 1597, the Japanese sent another invasion of similar size.
Without the legendary admiral, the Korean fleet was defeated. However,
Admiral Yi's supporters were able to free him from jain and reinstate
his command. Returning to the field, on September 16, he led 12 of his
ships against the Japanese fleet of over 300 ships in the
Battle of Myeongnyang.
Yi Sun Sin was victorious, destroying 31 enemy ships and sending over
18,000 men into the waters. On land, the Japanese force was unable to
defeat the combined Chinese and Korean armies.
Ballard wrote in his
Influence of the Sea on the Political History of Japan:
It is always difficult for Englishmen to admit that Nelson ever
had an equal in his profession, but if any man is entitled to be
so regarded, it should surely be this great naval commander of
Asiatic race who never knew defeat and died in the presence of
his enemy.... No commander, on the sea at least, ever more
thoroughly justified Napoleons saying that war is an affair
not of men, but of a man....
Other Events:
1829 - End of the Russo-Turkish War
Edited by Imperator Invictus