According to HistoryNet, “Throughout his six-year naval command, Yi fought and won 23 battles, destroying over 780 Japanese ships without losing a single vessel of his own, an incredible military record by any account.”
RE: He may have invented armored ships —
“Lee’s Turtle invention that prevented the samurai from executing their boarding tactic while providing Korean crews inside with protection and the ability to fire from nearly every direction.”
“Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Turtle Ships (Geobukseon) were 16th-century iron-clad, covered warships designed to combat Japanese invasions (1592–1598). Their spiked roofs, hidden cannon, and armored, durable structure directly prevented Japanese samurai from using their primary tactic of boarding and capturing ships, ensuring Korean naval superiority.”
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historynet.com/yi-sun-sin/o
