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Battle of Okpo
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Battle of Okpo was a 2 day fight around the harbor of Okpo at Geoje Island in 1592. It was the first naval battle of the Imjin War and the first victory of Admiral Yi. The Battle of Okpo caused anxiety and nervousness among the Japanese, because afterward Yi began to deploy his navy to attack Japanese supply and carrier vessels.
Yi's headquarters were at Yeosu, which is west of Namhae Island of the southern coast of Korea.
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Prelude
The Battle of Okpo was a 2 day fight around the harbor of Okpo at Geoje Island in 1592. It was the first naval battle of the Imjin War and the first victory of Admiral Yi. The Battle of Okpo caused anxiety and nervousness among the Japanese, because afterward Yi began to deploy his navy to attack Japanese supply and carrier vessels.
Yi's headquarters were at Yeosu, which is west of Namhae Island of the southern coast of Korea. The surrounding area of Okpo and Yeosu is dotted with numerous islands and tight straits. It is in this area where many of the naval battles in which Yi defeated the Japanese took place.
Approach of Geoje Island
Admiral Yi set sail on May 5, 1592 at 2:00 am from Yeosu with his 24 panokson and sailed for the entire day and slept on the ships. On May 6, 1592, Admiral Yi arrived at Tangpo, which was the rendezvous point with the other commanders. Yi Ok-ki came with his fleet, but Won Kyun showed up extremely late.
Attack at Okpo
Admiral Yi approached Okpo harbor the next day. He saw around 50 Japanese ships anchored there. The Japanese soldiers were looting and killing Korean civilians. Enraged, Yi attacked.
The Japanese panicked and quickly boarded their ships in an attempt to escape. The Koreans encircled the Japanese and commenced firing with their cannons. Immediately, several Japanese ships disintegrated. The Japanese commander Todo Takatora ordered his men to counterattack with arquebuses but did not kill any of the Koreans. After futile fighting, the Japanese threw their weapons and armor overboard and jumped into the water to flee. Yi pulled back into the sea and the next day neared a harbor called Chokjinpo. The Korean commander was again saddened by the Japanese harassing the Koreans and ordered his men to throw a heavy volley of arrows and cannonballs upon the Japanese. 11 out of 13 ships were destroyed.
The Koreans helped themselves to the treasures inside the Japanese wrecks and sailed away back to Yeosu.
Aftermath
Admiral Yi's view of the Japanese looting local towns made him determined to attack and destroy more Japanese ships. Later, at the Battle of Sacheon, he first used his "secret weapon", the Turtle Ships and crushed the Japanese again.
See also
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