A turtle ship was a type of warship that was used by the Korean Joseon Navy from the early 15th century up until the 19th century. They were used alongside the panokseon warships in the fight against invading Japanese fleets. The ship's name derives from its covering that was said to resemble a turtle shell. Some historians have described it as a very early type of ironclad though the historical evidence for this is uncertain.
Turtle Ship in Seoul
Depiction of 1795 ship considered to resemble Yi's 1592 version.
Estimation of the early 15th century turtle ship according to an illustration from 1795
Three large Chongtong at the Jinju Fortress museum. The closest is a cheonja-chongtong, the second is a jija-chongtong, and the third is a hyeonja-chongtong.
Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)
The Japanese invasions of Korea, commonly known as the Imjin War, involved two separate yet linked invasions: an initial invasion in 1592, a brief truce in 1596, and a second invasion in 1597. The conflict ended in 1598 with the withdrawal of Japanese forces from the Korean Peninsula after a military stalemate in Korea's southern provinces.
The Japanese landing at Busan
Daimyo Konishi Yukinaga commanded the Japanese First Division.
Daimyo Katō Kiyomasa commanded the Japanese Second Division.
Katō Kiyomasa's (1562–1611) banner and battle standard