Worldbuilding Challenge 1908

What is the worst naval defeat or setback your country has ever suffered? For those younger countries with very few battles under their belt, substitute "What was our navy's most embarrassing moment in the public eye?" Bonus round: after explaining the defeat or embarrassment, sugar-coat the story with a revisionist take. (Example: "oh, actually, this was a good thing because it allowed us to start fresh.")

## Joseon

**Q&A With ''Dr. Lee Eun-seok'' (Commander, Retired): Excerpt from a Wednesday Rum Ration Video About the Wangsil Haegun, with its official Historian**

**Drachinifel**: "So we've spoken a fair bit about the success of the Joseon Navy in their various wars and conflicts.  Can you tell me about any occasions where they were somewhat less than successful?"

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "I think you don't need to look any further than the First Battle of Changrin-do in October 1737, which was the greatest defeat of the Wangsil Haegun.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "This battle takes place only two years after Park Sung-keun defeats the Bolish at the Battle of Yeongpyeong.  Park's spent the last ten years building up the Joseon Navy and training it to be this absolutely lethal force, and at Yeongpyeong he absolutely demolishes a superior Bolish fleet.  It gives the Joseon Navy control of the sea and probably keeps them in the Great Northern War rather than surrendering.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "But a lot of junior Joseon admirals, who are Park's political rivals, really resent Admiral Park's success.  You've probably heard the story about how he was brought up on false charges, tied to a yak, whipped through the streets, and made a low-ranking gate sentry.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "He was replaced by a new admiral, Kim Jong-sok, who takes over this fleet - it's actually quite a formidable force, twelve ships-of-the-line - that was built by Admiral Park over the last decade.  And he decided the moment was perfect to defeat Bozhkov."

**Drachinifel**: "Yes, Prince-Admiral Alexander Bozhkov - I'm actually putting together some information about him for a video."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Yes.  And if you ever read the personal accounts from both fleets, you walk away with the sense that Bozhkov is probably one of the finest fleet commanders of the Age of Sail, but almost nobody's heard of him outside of Joseon, and only then because he's the archnemesis if you will of Admiral Park."

**Drachinifel**: "Which I feel is a real shame."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "In any case, he's really a very exceptional admiral, whereas Kim Jong-sok is, let's be polite and call him a political admiral.  He's not incompetent or without talent; he's actually quite a good administrator.  But he's a terrible sea officer."

**Drachinifel**: "As I recall, he was the shipbuilding Inspector-General for Admiral Park."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Yes, exactly.  And Park, even after Kim stabbed him in the back and arranged his demotion - praised Kim's earlier career arranging for the purchase and building of Joseon's warships.  He was very good at that.  But at sea, Kim's a very nervous admiral.  He doesn't communicate well with his captains - many of whom resent him.  He ignores the advice of Woo Ha-joon, his flag captain.  He's constantly expecting the worst things both from the enemy and from his own officers.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "And this really comes back to bite him at Changrin-do.  He's sailed with virtually all of Joseon's fleet - twelve battleships and three frigates.  Two frigates return to port after a storm, and then the remaining twelve ships find the Bolish fleet, which only has eight ships.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "And this is where things start to go horribly wrong.  Admiral Kim gives exactly one order, which is "General Chase," basically ordering the entire fleet to break formation and pursue the enemy.  Tang Jae-in, his deputy commander in the rear, knows that this is a bad idea and at least for a bit, keeps the rear portion of the fleet together."

**Drachinifel**: "Meanwhile, Prince-Admiral Bozhkov's looking at the Joseon fleet and saying, 'Mm, yes, free XP."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Yes, yes, exactly."

**Drachinifel**: "So Kim's scattering his fleet to chase; what happens next?"

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "About what you'd expect.  Bozhkov keeps his ships in formation and maneuvers.  Kim starts to get very nervous.  Even before the first cannon is fired, he starts to believe he's lost the battle.  And frankly, he has.  Aside from Tang, the Joseon ships are increasingly scattered.  They can't support each other.  Kim orders a few more course changes but by that point he knows he's messed up.  Bozhkov turns around shortly before nightfall and just wades in with both fists."

**Drachinifel**: "I believe this is one of the few night battles of the Age of Sail."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Yes; I can't think offhand of any others.  And the Bolish fleet does very well.  They completely dominate the battle.  Commodore Tang tries to rescue his superior officer but by then it is far too late; he ends up collecting the demoralized stragglers and running for his life.

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "It all ends quite badly for Joseon.  Admiral Kim's flagship surrenders without firing a shot.  A total of eight ships-of-the-line are captured or shipwrecked on the island of Changrin-do.  Only four escape, and they're blockaded by Bozhkov within a few days.  The Bolish suffer virtually no casualties-"

**Drachinifel**: "Bozhkov's official report was that he had five men wounded and two chickens killed."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Yes.  It's a very embarassing defeat for Joseon.  And it could have ended the war.  Joseon spent a decade fighting to gain control of the sea and lost it almost instantly.  It absolutely crushed their morale.  The Joseon pride themselves on being a victorious underdog, winning against the odds.  At Changrin-do, they had more ships and still lost.  Joseon prides themselves on fighting to the bitter end; but their flagship surrendered without firing a shot.  Their confidence was very badly shaken and they very nearly surrendered."

**Drachinifel**: "But we know they came back from the defeat."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "They did, and that's something the Joseon Navy is very rightly proud of.  They restored Admiral Park to command of he decimated fleet, and he managed to achieve his final three victories at Sogimdok, Yeosu, and Noryang; the last battle was where he died.  And even that did not end the war; it continued another twelve, I think, years beyond Noryang."

**Drachinifel**: "It's one of the more interesting what-ifs of naval history - if Admiral Park stayed in command rather than being removed, and if he'd won the Battle of Changrin-do."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "Oh, I think it would have cut the war short by - well, probably five years at least."

**Dr. Lee Eun-seok**: "One of the interesting things - in my opinion - is that Joseon fought and won another battle at Changrin-do in 1741, and it was an outstanding little small-ship action.  As a result, 'Changrin-do' was added to the list of victorious battles that the Navy uses to name their warships.  But the Joseon Navy then immediately blacklisted the name because they wanted to avoid the association with the first battle."

## Drakenstaat

**Battle of the Octavian Sea**. Occurred in 1312. A Fleet of Draken Galleys organized by Prince Hugen Siezzlieg departed the Empire. It was the Prince's idea to attempt a conquest of the Isle of Octavia, and to establish himself as an independent king there. His large fleet of 50 galleys were met by 40 Reman ones. Being over confident, he attacked. Unbeknownst to him, the by the coast was close to unusual tidal currents, ones that were familiar to the Remans defenders. These unpredictable currents turned the Draken formation into disarray, ships smashing and ramming into each other, while the remainder were captured, sunk or fled. The Prince was presumed dead, and so bad was the defeat that this was the final attempt on the part of the Draks to seize the island.