Turtle ship
Encyclopedia
{|The Turtle ship, also known as Geobukseon or Kobukson (거북선), was a type of large warship belonging to the Panokseon
class in Korea
that was used intermittently by the Royal Korean Navy
during the Joseon Dynasty
from the early 15th century up until the 19th century.
The first references to older, first generation turtle ships, known as Gwiseon (귀선), come from 1413 and 1415 records in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
, which mention a mock battle between a gwiseon and a Japan
ese warship. However, these early turtle ships soon fell out of use as Korea’s naval preparedness decreased during a long period of relative peace.
Turtle ships participated in numerous victories against Japanese naval forces
that supported Toyotomi Hideyoshi
's attempts to conquer Korea from 1592-1598, inflicting heavy losses. However, their historical role may have been exaggerated since "the entire Korean fleet probably did not have more than half a dozen turtleboats in action at any one time". Korean admiral
Yi Sun-sin
is credited with designing the ship. His turtle ships were equipped with at least five different types of cannon. Their most distinguishable feature was a dragon-shaped head at the bow (front) that could launch cannon fire or flames from the mouth. Each was also equipped with a fully covered deck to deflect arrow fire, musket
-shots, and incendiary weapons. The deck was covered with iron spikes to discourage enemy men from attempting to board the ship. Claims that it was iron plated remain controversial (see section on decking).
, Yi's wartime diary, Yi decided to resurrect the turtle ship in 1591, from pre-existing designs (see picture, illustrated nearly 200 years earlier), after discussing the matter with his subordinates. Once concluding that a Japanese invasion was possible, if not imminent, Yi and his subordinate officers constructed the first modern turtle ship. Yi's diary, along with the book entitled Hangrok written by his nephew Yi Beon, described numerous important details about the structures, construction progress, and the use of turtle ships in battle, as well as the testing of weaponry used in the ships.
The mounted weapons, Korean cannon
s with ranges from about 300 to 500 metres, were tested on March 12, 1592. Yi completed his first turtle ship and launched it on March 27, 1592, one day before the Siege of Busan
and the Battle of Tadaejin
.
's bottom structure. The turtle ship was technically a hull that was placed on top of a Panokseon, with a large anchor held in the front of the ship, and other minor modifications.
On the bow of the vessel was mounted a dragon head which emitted sulfur
smoke to effectively hide its movement from the enemy in short distance combat. The dragon head, which is considered the most distinguishing feature of the vessel, was large enough for a cannon to fit inside. The dragon head served as a form of psychological warfare
, with the aim of striking fear into the hearts of Japanese sailors. Early versions of the turtle ship would burn poisonous materials in the dragon's head to release a poisonous smoke.
In the front of the ship was a large anchor. Below the anchor was a wooden crest that was shaped like a face, and these were used to ram into enemy ships.
Similar to the standard Panokseon, the turtle ship had two masts and two sails. Oars were also used for maneuvering and increased speed. Another advantage the turtle ship had over its enemies was that the turtle ship could turn on its own radius.
The turtle ship had 10 oars and 11 cannon portholes on each side. Usually, there was one cannon porthole in the dragon head's mouth. There were two more cannon portholes on the front and back of the turtle ship. The heavy cannons enabled the turtle ships to unleash a mass volley of cannonballs (some would use special wooden bolts several feet in length, with specially engineered iron fins). Its crew complement usually comprised about 50 to 60 fighting marines and 70 oarsmen, as well as the captain.
Sources indicate that sharp iron spikes protruded from hexagonal plates covering the top of the turtle ship. An advantage of the closed deck was that it protected the Korean sailors and marines from small arms and incendiary fire. The spikes discouraged Japanese sailors from engaging in their primary method of naval combat at the time, grappling an enemy ship with hooks and then boarding
it to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Korean written descriptions all point to a maneuverable ship, capable of sudden bursts of speed. Like the standard Panokseon, the turtle ship featured a U-shaped hull which gave it the advantage of a more stable cannon-firing platform, and the ability to turn within its own radius. The main disadvantage of a U-shaped bottom versus a V-shaped bottom was a somewhat slower cruising speed.
It is sometimes said that turtle ship was covered with metal plates, making it an ironclad, and thus the first ship of this kind in history. The claim is controversial among historians, and an emotive topic for some Koreans. While it is clear from the available sources that the roof of the ship was covered with iron spikes to prevent boarding, there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that it was iron plated. In fact, no contemporary Korean source exists which refers to the turtle ship as ironclad: Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the purported inventor himself, makes no mention of any kind of ironplating in his comprehensive war diary, nor does Yi Pun, his nephew and also witness of the war, in his account of the events. The annals of King Sonjo, a many thousand pages long compilation of all kinds of official documents of the period, are also silent on the subject. By contrast, Korean prime minister Yu Song-nyong described the turtle ship as "covered by wooden planks on top". There is also the question of motivation for adding metal plating. Since the Japanese did not commonly employ cannons on their ships until decades later, let alone use plunging cannon fire
, any plating would have logically been designed as an anti-incendiary measure, not to withstand cannon balls. The Japanese did commonly use fire arrows and a form of exploding grenades (horokubiya) in naval battles during this period.
Japanese sources mention a clash in August 1592 which involved three Korean turtle ships covered in iron. However, according to Hawley, this does not necessarily mean the vessels were covered with iron plates; it could refer to the iron spikes protruding from their roofs, a fitting described for the first time three weeks earlier in Yi Sun-sin's diary.
Records, though, show that the Japanese government ordered in February 1593 the military to use iron plate in building ships, possibly in response to the Korean attacks.
As it was, Yi Sun-shin, who was largely cut off from government supplies throughout his campaigns, found the relatively small amount of fifty pounds worth mentioning in his war diary. Therefore, Hawley believes that it is unlikely that Admiral Yi would have passed in silence over the estimated six tons (twelve thousand pounds) of iron necessary for even a single outfit. Such a large amount of iron was equivalent to one ship's entire ordnance, and would have probably been regarded more useful for casting additional cannons, particularly since the Koreans were well aware that Japanese warships were practically devoid of naval guns. Confronted with an enemy who relied on small arms fire and boarding tactics, and faced by the logistical and financial difficulties involved in acquiring such a large amount of iron, any iron cladding of the Korean vessels has been deemed by Hawley inherently superfluous:
Evidence for a plated turtle ship is found, according to Stephen Turnbull
, in a 1795 drawing of the turtle ship where the shell is shown as being covered by a distinct hexagonal pattern, implying that there is something covering the wood shell. Hawley, however, questions the historical accuracy of this drawing since it departs in important ways from the 16th century ships such as its lack of the reported iron spikes (see image) and the different shape and number of the dragon heads displayed at the bow. In this context, it is worth noting that the hexagonal structure, which is a natural feature of turtle
s' shell, does not necessarily imply metal armour, since the designation "turtle ship" is already attested around 180 years before Yi Sun-sin's ships took to the sea (in 1413), for an early type of the vessel which by all accounts did not feature any kind of armour.
According to one hypothesis by Hawley, the idea that the Korean turtle ships were ironclad has its origins in the writings of late 19th century Westerners
returning from Korea. The progression from casual comparison to a statement of fact that the turtle ships anticipated the modern ironclad by centuries can be roughly charted in retrospect, starting no earlier than ca. 1880. Coming in touch with local tales of ancient armoured ships in a period which saw the rise of Western-type ironclad warship to global prominence, these authors may have naturally conjured up the image of metal armour, instead of a more traditional heavy timber shell. For instance, when Korea was invaded by the French Navy, the government ordered an ironclad ship be built "like the turtle ship". However, despite all efforts the design failed to float. Turnbull believes that the 19th century experience should not rule out a "limited amount of armor plating in 1592".
It should be mentioned that the Korean claim of priority has been in turn contested by other early modern warships, including the Santa Anna
of the Knights Hospitaller
(1522), the Japanese Atakebune
(1578; it was used primarily as a floating fortress more than a warship per se) and the Dutch Finis Bellis
(1585).
The dragon's head was placed on the top of the ship at the bow. Several different versions of the dragon head were used on the turtle ships. The dragon head was first placed as an early form of psychological warfare to scare Japanese soldiers. One version carried a projector that could release a dense toxic smoke that was generated from a mixture of sulfur and saltpeter produced in the bowels of the ship. The smoke was designed to obscure vision and interfere with the Japanese ability to maneuver and coordinate properly.
Yi's own diary explains that a cannon could be fitted in the mouth of the dragon to be fired at enemy ships. This type of cannon was usually a hwangja-chongtong
.
Metal spikes were used to cover the top of the turtle ship to deter boarding tactics used by the Japanese. According to historical records, the spikes were covered with empty rice sacks or rice mats to lure the Japanese into trying to board, since the boarding would appear safe. However, modern authors have found this to be unlikely since such an arrangement would have invited enemy fire arrows.
known as Seungja (victory). The Seungja cannon ranged 200 metres, while the Hwangja was the lightest but with a range of 1200 metres. One Japanese record of the Battle at Angolpo records the experience of two Japanese commanders on July 9, 1592 in their battle against turtle ships, "their (turtle ships') attack continued until about 6 o'clock in the afternoon, by firing large fire-arrows through repeated alternate approaches, even as close as 18-30 feet. As a result almost every part of our ships - the turret, the passages and the side shielding - were totally destroyed..."
and Battle of Sacheon (1592)
.
The turtle ship's main use of the plating was as an anti-boarding device, due to the top plating of the turtle ship and its protruded spikes. Grappling hooks could not gain direct hold on the plating, and jumping on top of the turtle ship often meant being impaled. The heavy timber plating deflected arrows and arquebus
rounds.
Later, the turtle ship was used for other purposes such as spearheading attacks or ambushing Japanese ships in tight areas such as in the Battle of Noryang.
Despite popular depiction, the turtle ship was not an extremely slow ship. The turtle ship had oar propulsion as well as sails, and could turn on its axis like the panokseon
. Admiral Yi constructed the turtle ship to be fast and agile for the purpose of ramming.
, The Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin
(불멸의 이순신). Several museums host turtle ships on display, and people can visit and go inside a 1:1 scale turtle ship that is anchored at Yeosu
. North Korea
n delegations to the south seem to be more reserved about the significance of his historical role.
Panokseon
Panokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
class in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
that was used intermittently by the Royal Korean Navy
Joseon Navy
The Joseon Navy is the navy of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea.-History:During the Joseon Dynasty, however, the navy and maritime operations fell into disuse, while fishing ships continued to operate and prosper. Because of the relative peace during the Joseon dynasty, the entire military itself...
during the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
from the early 15th century up until the 19th century.
The first references to older, first generation turtle ships, known as Gwiseon (귀선), come from 1413 and 1415 records in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
Annals of Joseon Dynasty
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are the annual records of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, which were kept from 1413 to 1865. The annals, or sillok, comprise 1,893 volumes and are thought to cover the longest continual period of a single dynasty in the world...
, which mention a mock battle between a gwiseon and a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese warship. However, these early turtle ships soon fell out of use as Korea’s naval preparedness decreased during a long period of relative peace.
Turtle ships participated in numerous victories against Japanese naval forces
Naval history of Japan
The naval history of Japan can be said to begin in early interactions with states on the Asian continent in the early centuries of the 1st millennium, reaching a pre-modern peak of activity during the 16th century, a time of cultural exchange with European powers and extensive trade with the Asian...
that supported Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
's attempts to conquer Korea from 1592-1598, inflicting heavy losses. However, their historical role may have been exaggerated since "the entire Korean fleet probably did not have more than half a dozen turtleboats in action at any one time". Korean admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...
is credited with designing the ship. His turtle ships were equipped with at least five different types of cannon. Their most distinguishable feature was a dragon-shaped head at the bow (front) that could launch cannon fire or flames from the mouth. Each was also equipped with a fully covered deck to deflect arrow fire, musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
-shots, and incendiary weapons. The deck was covered with iron spikes to discourage enemy men from attempting to board the ship. Claims that it was iron plated remain controversial (see section on decking).
Construction
According to the Nanjung IlgiNanjung Ilgi
Nanjung Ilgi or War Diary of Yi Sun-sin is the personal diary of Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Joseon Dynasty. It was written between January 1, 1592 and November 17, 1598 by the Admiral himself.-External links:...
, Yi's wartime diary, Yi decided to resurrect the turtle ship in 1591, from pre-existing designs (see picture, illustrated nearly 200 years earlier), after discussing the matter with his subordinates. Once concluding that a Japanese invasion was possible, if not imminent, Yi and his subordinate officers constructed the first modern turtle ship. Yi's diary, along with the book entitled Hangrok written by his nephew Yi Beon, described numerous important details about the structures, construction progress, and the use of turtle ships in battle, as well as the testing of weaponry used in the ships.
The mounted weapons, Korean cannon
Korean cannon
Cannon in Korea were first developed by Choe Mu-seon, for exclusive use by the Goryeo Army. Several types were made and saw successful action during the Mongol invasions of Japan...
s with ranges from about 300 to 500 metres, were tested on March 12, 1592. Yi completed his first turtle ship and launched it on March 27, 1592, one day before the Siege of Busan
Siege of Busan
The Siege of Busan was a battle fought at Busan on April 13th-14th, 1592, between Japanese and Korean forces. Along with Tadaejin, Busan was the site of the first battle in the Imjin War. This battle marked the beginning of a long war on the Korean peninsula....
and the Battle of Tadaejin
Battle of Tadaejin
The Battle of Dadaejin, along with the Siege of Busan, was one of the first battles of the Japanese invasions of Korea . The Battle of Busan and the Battle of Dadaejin occurred almost simultaneously. Dadaejin is also transliterated as "Tadaejin"....
.
Structure
Many different versions of the turtle ships served during the war, but in general they were about 100 to 120 feet long (30 to 37 metres long), and strongly resembled the PanokseonPanokseon
Panokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
's bottom structure. The turtle ship was technically a hull that was placed on top of a Panokseon, with a large anchor held in the front of the ship, and other minor modifications.
On the bow of the vessel was mounted a dragon head which emitted sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
smoke to effectively hide its movement from the enemy in short distance combat. The dragon head, which is considered the most distinguishing feature of the vessel, was large enough for a cannon to fit inside. The dragon head served as a form of psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
, with the aim of striking fear into the hearts of Japanese sailors. Early versions of the turtle ship would burn poisonous materials in the dragon's head to release a poisonous smoke.
In the front of the ship was a large anchor. Below the anchor was a wooden crest that was shaped like a face, and these were used to ram into enemy ships.
Similar to the standard Panokseon, the turtle ship had two masts and two sails. Oars were also used for maneuvering and increased speed. Another advantage the turtle ship had over its enemies was that the turtle ship could turn on its own radius.
The turtle ship had 10 oars and 11 cannon portholes on each side. Usually, there was one cannon porthole in the dragon head's mouth. There were two more cannon portholes on the front and back of the turtle ship. The heavy cannons enabled the turtle ships to unleash a mass volley of cannonballs (some would use special wooden bolts several feet in length, with specially engineered iron fins). Its crew complement usually comprised about 50 to 60 fighting marines and 70 oarsmen, as well as the captain.
Sources indicate that sharp iron spikes protruded from hexagonal plates covering the top of the turtle ship. An advantage of the closed deck was that it protected the Korean sailors and marines from small arms and incendiary fire. The spikes discouraged Japanese sailors from engaging in their primary method of naval combat at the time, grappling an enemy ship with hooks and then boarding
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
it to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Korean written descriptions all point to a maneuverable ship, capable of sudden bursts of speed. Like the standard Panokseon, the turtle ship featured a U-shaped hull which gave it the advantage of a more stable cannon-firing platform, and the ability to turn within its own radius. The main disadvantage of a U-shaped bottom versus a V-shaped bottom was a somewhat slower cruising speed.
Decking
Plunging fire
Plunging fire is gunfire directed upon an enemy from an elevated position, or gunfire aimed so as to fall on an enemy from above.In naval warfare plunging fire was often used to penetrate an enemy ship's thinner deck armor rather than firing directly at an enemy ship's side...
, any plating would have logically been designed as an anti-incendiary measure, not to withstand cannon balls. The Japanese did commonly use fire arrows and a form of exploding grenades (horokubiya) in naval battles during this period.
Japanese sources mention a clash in August 1592 which involved three Korean turtle ships covered in iron. However, according to Hawley, this does not necessarily mean the vessels were covered with iron plates; it could refer to the iron spikes protruding from their roofs, a fitting described for the first time three weeks earlier in Yi Sun-sin's diary.
Records, though, show that the Japanese government ordered in February 1593 the military to use iron plate in building ships, possibly in response to the Korean attacks.
As it was, Yi Sun-shin, who was largely cut off from government supplies throughout his campaigns, found the relatively small amount of fifty pounds worth mentioning in his war diary. Therefore, Hawley believes that it is unlikely that Admiral Yi would have passed in silence over the estimated six tons (twelve thousand pounds) of iron necessary for even a single outfit. Such a large amount of iron was equivalent to one ship's entire ordnance, and would have probably been regarded more useful for casting additional cannons, particularly since the Koreans were well aware that Japanese warships were practically devoid of naval guns. Confronted with an enemy who relied on small arms fire and boarding tactics, and faced by the logistical and financial difficulties involved in acquiring such a large amount of iron, any iron cladding of the Korean vessels has been deemed by Hawley inherently superfluous:
Until further information comes to light to the contrary, the likeliest conclusion is that Yi Sun-sin's turtle ship was armored only insofar as it was constructed of heavy timbers and covered with a thick plank roof studded with iron spikes - which against the light guns of the Japanese was armor enough.
Evidence for a plated turtle ship is found, according to Stephen Turnbull
Stephen Turnbull (historian)
Stephen Richard Turnbull is a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. The books he wrote are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects.He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree...
, in a 1795 drawing of the turtle ship where the shell is shown as being covered by a distinct hexagonal pattern, implying that there is something covering the wood shell. Hawley, however, questions the historical accuracy of this drawing since it departs in important ways from the 16th century ships such as its lack of the reported iron spikes (see image) and the different shape and number of the dragon heads displayed at the bow. In this context, it is worth noting that the hexagonal structure, which is a natural feature of turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s' shell, does not necessarily imply metal armour, since the designation "turtle ship" is already attested around 180 years before Yi Sun-sin's ships took to the sea (in 1413), for an early type of the vessel which by all accounts did not feature any kind of armour.
According to one hypothesis by Hawley, the idea that the Korean turtle ships were ironclad has its origins in the writings of late 19th century Westerners
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
returning from Korea. The progression from casual comparison to a statement of fact that the turtle ships anticipated the modern ironclad by centuries can be roughly charted in retrospect, starting no earlier than ca. 1880. Coming in touch with local tales of ancient armoured ships in a period which saw the rise of Western-type ironclad warship to global prominence, these authors may have naturally conjured up the image of metal armour, instead of a more traditional heavy timber shell. For instance, when Korea was invaded by the French Navy, the government ordered an ironclad ship be built "like the turtle ship". However, despite all efforts the design failed to float. Turnbull believes that the 19th century experience should not rule out a "limited amount of armor plating in 1592".
It should be mentioned that the Korean claim of priority has been in turn contested by other early modern warships, including the Santa Anna
Santa Anna (ship)
Santa Anna was an early 16th Century carrack of the Knights Hospitaller. The war ship was celebrated for its many modern features. While some authors view its lead sheathed hull as an early form of ironclad, others regard it primarily as a means to improve its watertightness.-Career:Santa Anna was...
of the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
(1522), the Japanese Atakebune
Atakebune
were large Japanese warships of the 16th and 17th century internecine Japanese wars for political control and unity of all Japan.Japan undertook major naval building efforts in the mid to late 16th century, during the Sengoku period, when feudal rulers vying for supremacy built vast coastal navies...
(1578; it was used primarily as a floating fortress more than a warship per se) and the Dutch Finis Bellis
Finis Bellis
Finis Bellis was a Dutch rebel ship employed during the siege of Antwerp against the imperial Spanish forces....
(1585).
Dragon's head
Yi's own diary explains that a cannon could be fitted in the mouth of the dragon to be fired at enemy ships. This type of cannon was usually a hwangja-chongtong
Chongtong
The Chongtong was the general name of Korean gunnery used during the early to mid Joseon Dynasty. There were many different types, including: Cheonja , Jija , Hyeonja , Hwangja or , Se, and Seungja...
.
Spikes
Cannon
The turtle ship was equipped with Cheonja (Heaven), Jija (Earth), Hyeonja (Black), and Hwangja (yellow) type cannons. There was also an arquebusArquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
known as Seungja (victory). The Seungja cannon ranged 200 metres, while the Hwangja was the lightest but with a range of 1200 metres. One Japanese record of the Battle at Angolpo records the experience of two Japanese commanders on July 9, 1592 in their battle against turtle ships, "their (turtle ships') attack continued until about 6 o'clock in the afternoon, by firing large fire-arrows through repeated alternate approaches, even as close as 18-30 feet. As a result almost every part of our ships - the turret, the passages and the side shielding - were totally destroyed..."
Tactical use
Yi resurrected the turtle ship as a close-assault vessel, intended to ram enemy ships and sink them, similar to their use in past centuries. Despite smaller numbers, disabling or sinking enemy's lead command ship could severely damage command structure and morale of the enemy fleet. After ramming, the turtle ship would unleash a broadside volley of cannonballs. Because of this tactic, the Japanese called the turtle ships the mekurabune (目蔵船), or "blind ships", because they would blast and ram into enemy ships. This kind of attack was used during the Dangpo BattleDangpo Battle
The naval Battle of Dangpo was a battle during the Japanese invasions of Korea . between Korean and Japanese naval forces. It resulted in a Korean victory.-Prelude:...
and Battle of Sacheon (1592)
Battle of Sacheon (1592)
The naval Battle Of Sacheon took place on May 29, 1592 and was the first battle in the Imjin War when the Turtle Ship was used.-Prelude:...
.
The turtle ship's main use of the plating was as an anti-boarding device, due to the top plating of the turtle ship and its protruded spikes. Grappling hooks could not gain direct hold on the plating, and jumping on top of the turtle ship often meant being impaled. The heavy timber plating deflected arrows and arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
rounds.
Later, the turtle ship was used for other purposes such as spearheading attacks or ambushing Japanese ships in tight areas such as in the Battle of Noryang.
Despite popular depiction, the turtle ship was not an extremely slow ship. The turtle ship had oar propulsion as well as sails, and could turn on its axis like the panokseon
Panokseon
Panokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
. Admiral Yi constructed the turtle ship to be fast and agile for the purpose of ramming.
Turtle ships today
A turtle ship has been reconstructed by Keobukseon Research Center (거북선연구원), which is a private commercial company. They have done extensive research on the original design of the turtle ship, and made several real-size reconstructions of them for commercial use. These were deployed in a Korean dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, The Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin
Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin
Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin is a South Korean television show based on the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. It was first broadcast in August 2004 in Korea and later the same year in the United States. Many times, it filmed on location at the actual battle sites. It made extensive use of rendered...
(불멸의 이순신). Several museums host turtle ships on display, and people can visit and go inside a 1:1 scale turtle ship that is anchored at Yeosu
Yeosu
Yeosu is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Old Yeosu City, which was founded in 1949, Yeocheon City, founded in 1986, and Yeocheon County were merged into a new city in 1998....
. North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n delegations to the south seem to be more reserved about the significance of his historical role.
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Military history of KoreaMilitary history of KoreaKoreas military history spans back thousands of years, beginning with the early struggles of the ancient Kingdom of Gojoseon. Its long history consists of the many successful repulsions of major invasions and defensive against foreign invasions...
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- Battle of OkpoBattle of Okpo-Prelude:The Battle of Okpo was a 2 day fight around the harbor of Okpo at Geoje Island in 1592. It was the first naval battle of the Imjin War and the first victory of Admiral Yi...
- Battle of Hansan IslandBattle of Hansan IslandThe naval Battle of Hansan Island, also known as the Battle of Hansan-do, took place on August 14, 1592 near the Korean island of Hansan, and was one of the most important battles of the Imjin War. Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin destroyed at least 47 Japanese ships, captured 12 and killed over 8,000...
- Battle of Sacheon (1592)Battle of Sacheon (1592)The naval Battle Of Sacheon took place on May 29, 1592 and was the first battle in the Imjin War when the Turtle Ship was used.-Prelude:...
- Ship replicaShip replicaA ship replica is a reconstruction of a no longer existing ship. Replicas can range from authentically reconstructed, fully seaworthy ships, to ships of modern construction that give an impression of an historic vessel...
(including a list of ship replicas) - PanokseonPanokseonPanokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
- SingijeonSingijeonSingijeon or Shinkichon is a multi-launch rocket invented by Korean general Choe Mu-seon in 1377, during the Goryeo Dynasty under King U...
- HwachaHwachaHwacha or Hwach'a is the world's first multiple rocket launcher developed and used in Joseon Korea. It had the ability to fire up to 100 steel-tipped rockets, or 200 Singijeon flaming arrow projectiles from a range of 500 yards in multiple salvos...
- Yi Sun-SinYi Sun-sinYi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...