Hansando and Busan 1592 : Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s First Victories against Japan – 9781472868862

A detailed look at Admiral Yi’s four 1592 sorties that defeated the Japanese navy and established him as a national hero. In 1592, Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin planned a series of attacks against the Japanese navy. His first two campaigns saw him destroy several isolated Japanese squadrons engaged in coastal raiding activities.

Once informed of these attacks, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his daimyos to assemble their ships in a dedicated task force to meet Yi in battle. In his third campaign, Yi was able to successfully lure out a Japanese fleet and destroy it in August at the Battle of Hansando. Yi and his ships then sunk fleets at Angolpo.

To capitalize on this victory, the Koreans then bombarded the Japanese fleet at Busan in September. With period images, colourful artwork and detailed maps, this book delves into Admiral Yi’s tactics, which were decisive to stopping the momentum of the Japanese advance into Korea. These naval engagements destabilized the Japanese grip on the southern coast and ended hopes of sustaining their armies by sea.

Historian Yuhan Kim brings to life the actions of one of the greatest naval commanders in the world and explores why Admiral Yi was so successful.