Yi Sun Sin and the Battle of Myeongnyang: An Unequal Battle

In 1597, Korea's navy had been all but destroyed. Thirteen ships were all that remained to stop a Japanese fleet of over 300 sailing toward the capital. Most people would call that a hopeless situation. Admiral Yi Sun-sin called it a plan. This is the story of the Battle of Myeongnyang — one of the most lopsided naval victories in all of history. A disgraced admiral, thirteen ships, a narrow strait with a deadly tide, and a commander who understood the water better than anyone alive. By the end of a single afternoon, dozens of enemy ships were destroyed, their commander was dead, and not one Korean ship had been lost. How is that possible? The answer is the tide, the terrain, and one of the most brilliant tactical minds in military history. This is the fourth video in our series on the underdogs who defeated the empires that should have crushed them. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 13 ships. 300 enemies. 0:48 How Korea lost its navy 2:08 The strait that changed everything 3:24 One ship against a fleet 4:53 The tide turns 6:04 The miracle explained 6:49 His final battle 📜 SOURCES & FURTHER READING Battle of Myeongnyang, 26 October 1597; Uldolmok Strait Admiral Yi Sun-sin; the panokseon warship; the Joseon navy The Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598) Kurushima Michifusa; the Battle of Noryang (1598) Note: historical fleet numbers vary by source (Japanese warships ~130 in direct combat, ~300+ counting support vessels); figures are presented as recorded by the chronicles. ▶️ WATCH THE SERIES Why The Mongols Could Never Conquer Vietnam → [dán link] Why The Mongols Could Never Conquer India → [dán link] They Conquered The World. Then The Sea Swallowed Their Army (Mongols vs Japan) → [dán link] 🔔 Subscribe to DoodlesOfWar — small nations vs great empires, hand-drawn. #history battle of myeongnyang, yi sun-sin, 13 ships vs 300, korean history, joseon navy, panokseon, imjin war, korea vs japan, naval battle, doodlesofwar #korea #yisunsin