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Yi Sun-Sin and the Turtle Boat
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Admiral Yu Sin Sun commanded the Korean Fleet against the Japanese invasion of Kampaku (Imperial Regent) Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan in 1532. Using "Turtle Boats" of his own invention (the world's first ironclad warships), he was able to achieve victory against overwhelming odds.
That statement was made by the Japanese admiral who defeated the Russian navy in 1905. Among sailors the world over, Yi Sun-Sin is acknowledged as the greatest naval tactician that ever lived. But who was this remarkable Korean admiral?  In 1592, Kampaku (Imperial Regent) Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan decided to distract his nobles (who were vying for his power) by invading China. He asked Korea to join him by allowing him to land his troops on Korean soil. The Koreans, with their close Chinese ties, not surprisingly refused. So in April of that year, the Japanese sent a force of 300,000 men and 50,000 horses to Korea. But along with the expected axes, spears, and swords, they sent 300,000 Portuguese muskets. The Koreans having never seen, let alone fought, handheld firearms before were quickly defeated. The Japanese reached Seoul in two weeks and overran the country by the end of May. Korea's only hope was Admiral Yi. Yi was a throwback to the days of the ancient Hwarang warriors. Although the time in which he lived was a time of scholars, Yi lived by the Hwarangdo code. His first priority was the protection of king and country. Being a warrior, he had forseen the inevitability of the war and raised money for a small fleet of very remarkable ships. At a time when Korea needed superior weapons, he invented them. His most famous invention was "the turtle boat". By observing nature, Yi came up with the idea of a flat-bottomed boat, covered by a curved dome. These boats resembled nothing so much as the turtle for which they were named. The boat was constructed of four-inch thick timber that was too strong to be effectively damaged by arrow or musket balls. Hundreds of slots were cut into the wood, allowing the Korean sailors to fire in any direction. Metal plates covered the top of the ship, protecting the men onboard. During sea battles, the sails were lowered and 20 oars were used to maneuver. Twenty-two gunports along each side carried cannons named "Black", "Earth", and "Heaven", and each ship carried another forty 3-inch cannons that shot steel-tipped darts and arrows.  In addition to its armor, the boat was equipped with a massive dragon's head at the prow. This seemingly decorative item actually served two practical purposes. First, it was a massive battering ram. And second, the dragon head was designed to spew forth flaming arrows, sulphurous fumes, and clouds of smoke, which provided the Koreans with cover for their tactical maneuvers. The fear this fire-breathing dragon would have struck in the superstitious Japanese sailors must have been awesome. But Admiral Yi wasn't content to leave the safety of his ships to the enemy's fear alone. He knew that at least some of the Japanese would attempt the age-old tactic of boarding the ship in an effort to overwhelm his sailors with sheer numbers. So, he devised a special surprise for these foolhardy souls. The top of the ship appeared to be covered with thatch. Naturally, this presented the Japanese with a tempting target for burning arrows. Just beneath the thatch, however, was a layer of spiked metal. The arrows would set the thatch on fire, but this would simply roll off the curved top into the water. Those enemy sailors that tried to board the turtle boats would find themselves impaled on the metal spikes that had been hidden by the thatch. So, for months Yi wreaked havoc with the Japanese navy. He devestated a force of 200 ships and eventually caused the war to end in a truce. But Korea was divided at the end of the war, and though he had stopped the invasion, Admiral Yi had made political enemies at home in the process. His opponents managed to take control and Yi was thrown in prison where he remained until 1597 when Hideyoshi renewed his invasion. While Yi remained in jail, the Japanese ravaged the Korean navy. Finally, Yi was exonerated and put in charge of what remained.  With only 12 turtle boats left, Yi ambushed 133 enemy ships. Seemingly overwhelming odds, but the slow Japanese boats boasted only one cannon each and no armor. The admiral sank 31 of the ships and drove the others away, thus giving himself time to rebuild his fleet. A year later, the Japanese realized they were fighting a losing war. They began a withdrawal using 500 ships. Once again, Yi attacked and sank hundreds of the enemy boats — over half the Japanese fleet. The carnage was greater than that during Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada just ten years earlier. In fact, the Japanese losses alone equalled more than had the English and Spanish forces combined. Admiral Yi was killed in the battle, but the Japanese were so soundly beaten, they stayed away from Korea until 1904. In an odd conclusion to this visionary episode in Korean history, the turtle boat died with its inventor. The Koreans never used them again and the world would not see another ironclad ship until the American Civil War. Yet, for all his brilliance and visionary achievements, Admiral Yi isn't even a footnote in Western history books. But in Korea he is to this day considered one of their greatest heroes. He practiced self-discipline, fairness, integrity, and above all loyalty to the king — and he required the same from his officers and men. His life and all his talent, both as a warrior and as an inventor, was based on the Hwarangdo code. His diary is on display at the Hyonchung-Sa shrine in the seaport Choong-Moo, where a replica of the turtle boat is on display. After his death, Yi was awarded the honorary title Choong-Moo which means loyalty-chivalry. A fitting title for this Korean hero. Sources:
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