Here is a long summery. Just take what you think is important
Okay, be4 I start presenting Admiral Yi, I want to say that he is NOT that Yi Sun Shin in Age of Conquerors. That game made Korea out of imagination...
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Yi Sun Shin
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Imjin War:
It all started after Japanese unification under Doyotomi Hideyoshi. He was an ambitious men, he watned to conquer india. He also needed to give land to his warriors who served under him. So, he decided to invade Korea.
The initial Japanese Expeditions were divided into 9 groups, all sent before April 6:
1-Gonishi Yukinaga (18700 men)
2- Gato Kiyomasa (20800)
3- Guruda Nagamasa (12000)
4- Simazu Yoshi-hiro (15000)
5- Hookushima Masanori (24700)
6- Gobayakawa Dakakake (15700)
7- Mori Terumodo (30000)
8- Ukida Hide-yie' (10000)
9- Hashiba Hidekasu (11500)
158800 men in first expedition. They were armed with sword, shield, spears, bows, and most importantly, muskets. These were introduced by the Portuguese, and these weapons were not known by Korea.
The first wave reached Busan. The soldiers, never seen a musket in their life, thought that these Japanese were using spears and so brought longer spears to "deal" with them. Of course, they failed miserably.
The Japs continued to move on. Before Yi got into action, he received the following transmission:
-Japanese ships number nearly 500
-They captured Busan, Kimhe, Yangsan, etc
-Though the Admiral in that region (kyongsan- and his name is Won kiun) destroyed 10 ships (a lie), overwhelming number of Japanese streamed on and thus he retreated
Meeting place : Dang Po
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some facts about Yi
-Built his own navy
-Designed Turtle ship- world's first ironclad ship (first turlte ship sat sail in April 11th- 27.6X10.4X6.6 Meters, Ironclad, spike from its back, has dragon face, 8 rows on each side making it a total of 16, )
-Raised his own militia
-Built his own fields to feed his troops
-Never lost a battle under his command
-Forged his own weapons from blacksmith
-Praised by their enemies, Japan, as well
Basically, he made his own country . This makes him a bit better than Nelson.
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Main battles:
Okpo: (May 7th, 1592)
Korean Ships: 91
Japanese Ship: 50
Result: 26 Japanese ships down compared to one korean got shot lightly in his arm
First major naval battle between Japan and Korea, Victory due to the fact that it was a surprise attack.
Sa Chon (May 29, 1592)
Korean: 25 + 1 Turtle ship
Japanese: 13
Result: All Japanese ships down, about 4 Koreans killed (Yi was injured in arm)
This was the first battle with turtle ships. Yi lured the enemy into ambush once again.
Han San (September 8, 1592)
Korean: 48 + 3 turtle ships
Japan: 73
Result: 42 Japanese ships down, No Korean ship sunk
This is one of the top 3 Korean victories in Imjin war. He first lured enemy into Han San straight. Yi then used the T cross, surrounding the incoming ships, followed by another one, and crushed the upcoming forces. KRUSHING victory, only 4 Japanese retured to base (Japanese sources say around 1000).
The T cross tactic was later used by a Japanese general who studied Yi to defeat the Russians in Japo-Russian war.
Angol (September 10, 1592)
Korea: 56 (3 Turtles included)
Japan: 43
Result: 42 Japanese ships sunk, no Korean ship sunk
This battle had Korea under locational disadvantage, but due to excellent leadership and concentration of fire on the biggest Japanese ships, victory was archieved
Busan (November 1, 1592)
Korea: 170 + 3 turtle ships
Japan: 470
Result: 128 Japanese ships sunk, no Korean ship lost
Heavy training from Korea for this planned war, and used longer cannon range to advantage for victory
Jang Moon (1594 November 29~ December 4)
Korea: 50
Japan: 117
Result: 2 ships sunk, no korean loss
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By this time, Won Kiun(mentioned before Yi started) got jealous of Yi and decided to incriminate him for a crime ne never commited. Yi was soon exiled to death, and on his way, it is said that his father died...and he could not visit the place because he was in exile (It was a bad thing due to the fact that Korea at that time was confusious). Then, by persuation of another brilliant terrestrial general, Wol Kiun, Yi was back on duty, but under the title of ChoongMuGong, meaning "loyal but without honor". During that time, the battle of Chil Chul Riang waged on, under leadership of Won Kiun.
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Chil Chul Riang(July 16, 1597)
Korean: every naval ship: 268, no Yi sun Shin
Japan:
Result: 256 Korean ship sunk
Won Kiun was a jerk. He was drinking when the Japanese under a crucial coordination under Dodo Dakatora, Yakijaka Yasuharu, Gurushima michihusa, Gato Yoshia, Simazu Yoshihi attacked in 4.am with nearly 100,000 marines . No turtle ship was saved. Only 12, all damaged escaped the massacre when Yi met them
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Myong Ryang (1598, September 16, one of the greatest naval victory in the world)
Korea: 12, No Turtle ships
Japan: 330
Result: 133 Japanese ships sunk, no korean ship sunk(only 34 men died)
Yi found a narrow straight named Myong Riang, that had currents accumilating up to 11 knots due to tides and width going as narrow as 300m, that shortening to 130 due to sharp rocks that surround the place. Yi wanted to use tides to his advantage. So he lured nearly 330 ships under Gurushima michihusa(btw, he was there to destory almost all of korean navy) into that narrow straight, around 12 am.
The Japanese ships were divided into 133 elite naval ships and the rest. The 133 elite ships hurled into that narrow straight, only to realize that the tide has changed against their favor.
It was 1pm, and Japanese ships were colliding onto the sides, themselves, and the sharp rocks, because the knots moved so quickly--11 knots. When they reached the narrowest place...militia from land lifted a chain barrier just like in Constantinople, and ships were being toppled alltogether.
Those who did get out Myong Riang faced cannons from the Korean navy. On first hour, 20 ships were sunk. But the Japanese ships who couldn't retreat because of the current charged foward in bunches...after the Japanese leader died, slowly the Japanese ships retreated-themselves damaged by current around the area.
The battle was over. 100,000 Japanese marines under 330 ships were defeated by only 12 Korean ships
Noriang (1598, November 18~19)
Allies: (Ming and Korea)63 and 20 respectively
Japan: around 200
Result: around 200 ships sunk
Yi died on this one The Japanese, eager to retreat due to death of Doyotomi Hideyoshi, were caught in the middle by the Allies.
Edited by demon