The Decisive Battles of World History

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armed with an early form of musket.

x The largest and most specialized type of Japanese warship, ataka

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line of oars projected from a lower row of holes, and there was

usually one mast with a square sail, typically lowered during

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stationed and sometimes a tower. The crew consisted of around 80

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and not very seaworthy.

x Next in size was the seki bune, basically a smaller version of the

ataka bune. It had a tapered bow and was either partially enclosed

or had a waist-high railing protecting the crew. Somewhat more

maneuverable, it carried around 40 oarsmen and 30 soldiers.

x The smallest, swiftest craft was the kobaya, which had an open

deck and was really just a small ship carrying some soldiers. To

offer some token protection, the Japanese often built a wooden

framework from which were hung fabric screens. These might

offer enough resistance to catch an arrow that was nearly spent, but

would not have stopped a more forceful projectile.

Korean Naval Warfare

x The Koreans approached naval combat with a different strategy.

Rather than closing with the enemy and boarding, they preferred

to stand off at a distance and bombard an enemy vessel with

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x The standard Korean warship, the panokson, was medium-sized

and had two decks: an enclosed lower one that protected the rowers

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models might also have a tower on the upper deck. They were

solidly constructed to bear the weight of cannons.