1592년 7월 8일 한산도 앞바다에 학의 날개가 펼쳐졌다! ‘한국의 살라미스 해전’이라 평가받는 한산대첩 대분석! (KBS 20110428 방송)

'Thorough Analysis: The Battle of Hansan' On July 8, 1592, the wings of a crane spread out in the waters off Hansando. Fifty-nine Japanese ships sank and over 9,000 Japanese soldiers were killed by the Crane Wing Formation deployed by the Joseon navy. The Battle of Hansan was the decisive battle that instantly reversed the tide of the war, which had been pushed onto the defensive during the early stages of the Imjin War. The Battle of Hansan achieved an overwhelming victory against the elite Japanese navy. What, then, were the factors behind that victory? ■ The Battle of Hansan, Detailed Battle Report How could the Joseon forces destroy the approximately 70 Japanese ships anchored in Gyeonnaeryang, a narrow sea between Geoje and Tongyeong? However, Gyeonnaeryang, being narrow and riddled with reefs, was not a suitable location for battle. Yi Sun-sin, who was proficient in tactics, planned his operation with the goal of "capturing all the Japanese enemies." Six decoy ships sent to Gyeonnaeryang to lure the large Japanese fleet out into the open sea. After a fierce pursuit of the retreating ships, the Japanese fleet was confronted by the Joseon navy, encircling them like the wings of a large crane. The Japanese fleet was instantly destroyed by a barrage of cannon fire raining down like thunder. Yi Sun-sin recorded that the sequence of arrows and cannonballs fired alternately from our warships resembled a storm. The Battle of Hansan Island was notable for Yi Sun-sin’s meticulous strategy of ‘luring’ the enemy into the open sea and ‘encircling’ them. We trace the course of the battle, focusing on the Gyeonnaeryang Pawaebyeongjang, Yi Sun-sin’s victory report. ■ Thorough Analysis: The Crane Wing Formation – Was It Truly a Perfect Formation? The ‘Usuyeong Jeonjindocheop’ (Map of the Advancement of Usuyeong) reveals a formation resembling a crane spreading its wings. The Crane Wing Formation is also commonly referred to as a horizontal formation or a ‘gijang.’ In other words, it is a U-shaped formation suitable for encircling and fighting the enemy with superior forces. But was the Crane Wing Formation a perfect tactic at sea? For warships, it is more efficient to utilize the sides of the ship, where a larger number of cannons are positioned, rather than the bow. However, concentrating firepower is difficult because cannons on the sides cannot be fired while the ship is moving toward the enemy. Furthermore, the Joseon navy's cannons took a considerable amount of time to reload after firing. The Crane Wing Formation had a weakness: without a swift response after firing, it could be vulnerable to the Japanese forces' boarding tactics, which involved boarding the ships to attack. ■ The Secret to the Joseon Navy's Victory: 'Continuous Cannon Fire' The *Sujo Gyusik*, a combat manual from the Joseon Dynasty, states that "the helmsman maneuvers the ship to circle around and fires the cannons mounted on all four sides simultaneously." This combat protocol was designed to shorten cannon reloading times for effective naval gunfire, and it was the "Panokseon" that made this possible. Unlike the Japanese warships, the Panokseon was a flat-bottomed vessel with superior maneuverability. The Joseon navy did not lose its offensive power during the reloading period—a gap in firepower—thanks to the superior maneuverability of the Panokseon. It was difficult for the Japanese forces, whose primary weapon was muskets, to counterattack against the Joseon navy's continuous bombardment achieved through the maneuverability of the Panokseon. The Panokseon, which was able to overcome the shortcomings of cannons, was the secret to the Joseon navy's victory. ■ The Battle of Hansan, a Shining Legend in World Naval History Joseon faced its greatest crisis in history as Seoul fell just 20 days after the outbreak of the Imjin War. The Battle of Hansan was a monumental counterattack that crushed Japan's ambition and arrogance toward continental invasion. The Battle of Hansan was made possible by the exceptional leadership and strategic prowess of Yi Sun-sin, who led the combined fleet, and the powerful weaponry of the Joseon navy. Following the defeat of the elite Japanese navy, Toyotomi Hideyoshi went so far as to ban naval battles against the Joseon navy. With this, naval supremacy was secured, and the Honam and Chungcheong regions were preserved. Subsequently, the Imjin War entered a period of peace negotiations, effectively bringing the conflict to an end. Yi Sun-sin, who demonstrated the strength of the East Asian navy, and the Battle of Hansan, hailed as the "Korean Battle of Salamis." We examine the influence of Yi Sun-sin and the Battle of Hansan, which shines in the history of naval warfare worldwide. #BattleOfHansan #CraneWingFormation #YiSunsin