The Battle of Hansan (or Battle of Hansan-do) is regarded as one of the four greatest sea battles of world history. This Battle is known also as the Hansan-Do Daecheob (kor.: the Great victory at Hansan-Do). 3 July 1592, Korean Joseon Admiral Yi Soon-shin destroyed near the Korean island Hansan-Do over 70 Japanese ships and killed over 9000 Japanese soldiers. Yi's success in this battle symbolizes a great turning point during the Korean-Japanese Seven-Year War which not only boosted morale in the Joseon Empire but also spread fear of Admiral Yi among Japanese war leaders. July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Events January 30 - The death of Pope Innocent IX during the previous year had left the Papal throne vacant. ... The Battle of Hansan (or Battle of Hansan-do) is regarded as one of the four greatest sea battles of world history. ... Hideyoshi in old age. ... Wakisaka Yasuharu (脇坂 安治; 1554 – September 26, 1626), sometimes referred to as Wakizaka Yasuharu, was a daimyo (feudal lord) of Awaji Island who fought under a number of warlords over the course of Japans Sengoku period. ... Katō Yoshiaki (1563-1631)(加藤義明) was one of Toyotomi Hideyoshis top generals, and commanded elements of Hideyoshis fleet in his invasions of Korea and campaigns in Kyushu. ... Kuki Yoshitaka (九鬼 嘉隆; 1542 - November 17, 1600) was a naval commander during Japans Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Yi Sun-sin (March 8, 1545 – November 19, 1598), was a famous Korean naval leader. ... Won Kyun (1540 - 1597) was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon Dynasty]. He is best known for his campaigns against Japanese during the Korea-Japan Seven Year War. ... The naval campaigns conducted by Korean Admiral Yi Sun-shin during the Imjin War against the Japanese forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 — December 16, 1598), was a famous Korean naval leader. ... The Seven-Year War was the conflict from 1592 to 1598 on the Korean peninsula, following two successive Japanese invasions of Korea. ...

The Battle

Admiral Yi Soon-shin lured the Japanese fleet into the broad open sea in front of Hansan Island. By positioning the Joseon fleet in U-Shape, Admiral Yi was quickly able to surround all Japanese ships. With the utilisation of the innovative and in fact first metal plate armoured Turtle Ships, Admiral Yi was able to surprise the Japanese fleet and destroy most of its ships not only from outside but also from the centre of the Japanese fleet. The Turtle Ship, which is also known as Kobukson or Geobukseon (거북선), is a galley that was invented in the 15th century. ...

The battle started with a feint movement by some of his leading ships around morning. After having encountered the Japanese navy, Admiral Yi feigned a retreat behind some shallow waters on the eastern shore of HanSan Island. Taking the bait, the Japanese pursued, eager to end this Korean naval threat. With the bulk of his force waiting behind a smoke screen, he led out his main force and formed a "crane-wing" formation (a U-shaped line that folded over and hit the enemy's lines on their flanks, like a crane's wing). Having drawn the Japanese into shallow water, Admiral Yi easily picked off the Japanese, though they held a considerable advantage in numbers. However, much of the Japanese prowess lied in pirate tactics: boarding and seizing. With Admiral Yi's innovation to used ranged combat, he avoided having his ships boarded and destroyed the Japanese fleet piece by piece.

After fighting into the afternoon hours, the Japanese commander finally let his courage fail and ordered his men to break ranks and retreat. This was the first and only recorded time that any significant Japanese commander ever became discouraged and rout against a foreign enemy. With that order, the majority of the Japanese ships grounded on HanSan Island, where the local population killed the retreating Japanese. The few ships that survived the encounter withdrew to Pusan and quickly spread the news of their defeat to their superiors.

While the overall amazement of this battle may contrast starkly to his later battle at Myungyang Straits, the Battle of HanSan Island is perhaps the most significant battle of the Seven-Year War in Korea. For the first time, the Japanese lost effective control of the seas, and though they still controlled Pusan harbor, they could not venture along the western coast and resupply their lines near Pyongyang. With the eventual support of Ming China on the land, Admiral Yi's victory at HanSan Island secured victory for Korea in the war.

International Recognition

George Alexander Ballard (1862-1948), a vice admiral of Royal Navy, complimented Admiral Yi's winning streaks by the Battle of Hansando highly in his book like this:

'"This was the great Korean admiral's crowning exploit. In the short space of six weeks(*actually about 9 weeks, May 7, 1592 ~ July 7, 1592) he had achieved a series of successes unsurpassed in the whole annals of maritime war, destroying the enemy's battle fleets, cutting his lines of communication, sweeping up his convoys, imperilling the situation of his victorious armies in the field, and bringing his ambitious schemes to utter ruin. Not even Nelson, Blake, or Jean Bart could have done more than this scarcely known representative of a small and cruelly oppressed nation; and it is to be regretted that his memory lingers nowhere outside his native land, for no impartial judge could deny him the right to be accounted among the born leaders of men."(The Influence of the Sea on The Political History of Japan, 57p)'

See also

• Yi Sun Shin
• Seven-Year War
• The Four Campaigns of Admiral Yi during the Imjin Year (1592)
• Turtle Ship