Joseon naval campaigns of 1592

The naval campaigns conducted by Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin during Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598) against the Japanese forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. These campaigns made Yi a legendary figure in Korean History on par, if not surpassing the great general Eulji Mundeok. The campaigns of Yi were vital in halting the Japanese invasion, which had the ultimate aim of conquering not just Korea, but Ming China as well. Yi was able to severely impair Japanese logistics and reinforcements for the land forces in Korea.

First Campaign

At the outbreak of hostilities on April 13, 1592, Admiral Yi had sent out his fleet out on a naval exercise. Upon hearing that Pusan had been captured, Yi immediately set out on an east course to Pusan, hoping to block Japanese naval advances along the coast to aid their land forces. His first encounter at Okpo (1 May 1592) was a decisive victory, destroying almost half of ships of the docking Japanese fleet. Prior to the Okpo Campaign, Yi mainly patrolled the seas near his Jeolla Province, to fortify is position before he began moving westward, due to the call for help from Admiral Won Kyun. A number of battles were fought around the area, mainly minor skirmishes. However, Yi treated each battle with extreme care and made certain that he suffered few serious casualties. From his Okpo battle, the only casualty was a minor gunshot wound on an oarsman from a stray musket fire. After the battle, Admiral Yi also destroyed few enemy skirmish ships at Happo and Jeokjinpo.

Second Campaign

Around the end of May, Admiral set out again eastward and encountered another force around the Sachun-Dangpo area, where he again engaged in minor skirmishes against the Japanese fleet. At Danghangpo, however, Yi met his first significant force of Japanese and forced the Japanese to withdraw, with heavy casualties. After securing this area (the last in the series of Jeolla coastal defenses), Admiral Yi decided to press the advantage of his enemy's inactivity and moved out to the Noryang-Hansando area.

Third Campaign (Battle of Hansan Island)

Around July, the Japanese forces had already reached Pyongyang and were laying siege to the city as the Yi court continued to flee northward to the border city of Uiju. At this time, the Japanese commanders sent out another massive fleet of 100 ships, consisting of best warships, including the heavy Akebune, under highly renowned commanders, to reinforce their troops near Pyongyang and to defeat Admiral Yi's "ravaging fleet". The two fleets met at Hansan Island - where the Japanese had been organizing - on the morning of July 3rd. What followed was a complete disgrace to the Japanese martial command. The Japanese war fleet was nearly annihilated while Koreans suffered virtually no losses. They also lost most of their reinforcements, many of whom were stranded on the island and met the fury of local residents. After this battle, Yi set up his headquarters on Hansan Island itself and began plans to attack main Japanese base at Pusan harbor while the Japanese fleet commanders were ordered avoid direct engagement with the Koreans.

Fourth (Pusan) Campaign

In September, Yi left his base at Hansan Island and went out against all odds to attack Pusan harbor. While considered a great victory, Yi's principal purpose was to demoralize the Japanese. He was rather pragmatic, knowing that he could not win the war on his own merit. But he knew that by attacking at place where the Japanese were comfortable would not only demoralize them, it would also instill a great fear on them - a fear that persisted even into the Meiji restoration. Yi managed to leave with all of his ships intact, while inflicting damage on several hundred enemy ships still in their docks.

Aftermath

After attacking Pusan, Yi retired to his Hansan Island base. For the rest of year, he remained relatively inactive, letting the progress of Ming Chinese assistance on the land take its effect. He still controlled all of the naval routes leading to the northern lines, which forced the Japanese to take the less dependable and more hazardous routes on the eastern coast. This proved ineffective in stopping the Chinese and Korean advances, and eventually Hanseong was recaptured, while the Japanese retreated to their bases around Pusan.

Of course, the most obvious result was the devastating consequences of the Hansan Island Battle on the Japanese navy. In every future engagement, the Japanese commanders were afraid for their safety, considering Yi's manipulative use of the sea terrain, battle tactics, and frightening weapons as his innovative Geobukson. Principally because of this, Yi won every single naval engagement in his entire naval career. And after his temporary imprisonment, Yi returned with a small fleet of 13 ships and shattered an entire fleet of Japanese ships at Myeongnyang in 1597. Afterwards, Yi led his campaign to the final battle at the Noryang Strait in 1598, where he was killed in battle.

Progress of Battles during the Four Imjin Campaigns of Admiral Yi Sun Sin

01. May 1592

1) Okpo Battle (Hangul : 옥포해전, Hanja : 玉浦海戰)

2) Happo Battle (Hangul : 합포해전, Hanja : 合浦海戰)

3) Jeokjinpo Battle (Hangul : 적진포해전, Hanja : 赤珍浦海戰)

02. June 1592

1) Sachun Battle (Hangul : 사천포해전, Hanja : 泗川浦海戰)

2) Dangpo Battle (Hangul : 당포해전, Hanja : 唐浦海戰)

3) 1st Battle of Danghangpo (Hangul : 제1차 당항포해전, Hanja : 唐項浦海戰)

4) Yulpo Battle (Hangul : 율포해전, Hanja : 栗浦海戰)

03. July 1592

1) Hansan Battle (Hangul : 한산도대첩, Hanja : 閑山島大捷)

2) Angolpo Battle (Hangul : 안골포해전, Hanja : 安骨浦海戰)

04. November 1592

1) Jangrimpo Battle (Hangul : 장림포해전, Hanja : 長林浦海戰)

2) Hwajungumi Battle (Hangul : 화준구미해전, Hanja : 花樽龜尾海戰)

3) Dadaepo Battle (Hangul : 다대포해전, Hanja : 多大浦海戰) 4) Seopyungpo Battle (Hangul : 서평포해전, Hanja :西平浦海戰)

5) Jeolyoung Battle (Hangul :절영도해전, Hanja : 絶影島海戰)

6) Battle of Busan (Hangul : 부산포해전, Hanja : 釜山浦海戰)

See also

*Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
*List of naval battles during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
*List of Korea-related topics
*List of naval battles
*Yi Sun-sin
*History of Korea

References

Nanjung Ilgi (Hangul : 난중일기; Hanja : 亂中日記) ISBN# 89-344-0149-4; 89-344-0141-9

* [http://www.e-sunshin.com/e-sunshin/life/yimjin_02.jsp Admiral Yi Campaigns during the Japanese Invasions of Korea (in Korean)]

* [http://www.navy.mil.kr:8005/history/history_3_1_3.jsp Maps of Naval Battles during the Japanese Invasions of Korea (in Korean)]

*http://www.boseong51.net/user/ftp/free/LeeSS/IMJIN-1OKPO.html