Turtle ship

A Turtle Ship, also known as a Kobukson or Geobukseon (거북선), was a galley developed in Korea in the 16th century. The turtle ship became famous after Korean admiral Yi Sun Sin and his subordinate Lieutenant Na Dae Yong used it innovatively in the war the Koreans fought to prevent the invasion of Japan between 1592 and 1598.

This type of boat had armor covering the roof of the ship, which protected sailors and rowers. This protection consisted of wooden planks that prevented the enemy from boarding the ship. Vapors and smoke were released from the mouth of the dragon's head in the front to hide the ship from the enemy. They also had artillery power, granted by a charge of 11 guns per band, two in the stern and one in the bow. Its appearance resembled that of a turtle, hence its name.

The turtle ship's propulsion was generated by a set of sails on the ship and by the oarsmen inside the ship.

Its use was widespread in naval battles led by Admiral Yi Sun Sin, especially those of Noryang and Myeongyang, in which the Japanese fleet suffered heavy losses that forced it to forget its dreams of invading Korea.

Construction

Turtle boat from the early 15th century in an illustration dating from 1795.

According to the Nanjung Ilgi (personal diary written by Yi Sun Sin), Yi decided to resurrect the turtle ship in 1591, based on pre-existing designs, after discussing the matter with his subordinates. This determination was made thanks to the near imminence of the Japanese invasion, which would lead to the Imjin War.

Yi completed his first turtle ship and launched it into the sea on March 27, 1592, one day before the Siege of Busan and the Battle of Tadaejin.

According to some secondary sources, particularly South Korea, turtle ships are considered the first battleships in history, but little actual evidence of armor actually exists. Neither Yi Sun-shin, the supposed inventor, mentions an iron roof in his war diary, nor his nephew Yi Pun, the leading historian of the war against the Japanese, nor the annals of King Sonjo, an extensive compilation of documents officers of the period. In contrast, Prime Minister Yu Song-nyong explicitly describes turtle ships as being "covered with wooden flooring". Apart from that, there are other earlier claims of the first battleship such as the carrack Santa Anna of the Order of Malta (1522), and the Dutch floating battery Finis Bellis (1585), among others.

In popular culture

The Turtle Ships have been used as a unit in some video games with historical references. They are one of two unique units of the Korean civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. Also included in the game is a scenario in which the player must defend Korea from the Japanese invasion., destroying their ports and ships with the support of Admiral Yi Sun Sin and his Turtle Ships enacting the Battle of Noryang. The Turtle Ships appear as an easter egg and controllable unit in the last mission of the Aztec campaign in the same game. They can also be found in the game Empires: Dawn of the Modern World.