poser765

Horatio Hornblower.

rehabnonono

Yi's record of wins is impressive and sounds invincible, but upon closer inspection this record can be explained. Yi operated almost exclusively in his own waters and had an advanced technology that allowed his sailors to negate the enemy's (almost always the Japanese) advantage they held at the time. Knowing his waters well and fighting with advanced technology (the turtle ship) where his navy could stand off and slowly bleed the samurai marines without suffering anywhere near the same casualties, would explain why he had such a miraculous record.

rehabnonono

Thanks poser, the fairytale forum is down the yellow brick road...

DIVUS IVLIVS

Actually, the Turtle Ship is IMO one of the aspects of Yi's naval career that is most to be lauded. He deserves a huge portion of the credit for the fact that the Koreans were able to deploy it as a decisive weapon in that conflict. It seems fair to credit an admiral for working to create an advantage for his side long before the battle.

Eternalsonata

That doesn't make Yi any lesser just because he knew his own waters and the fact that he had an advantage in technology (He contributed to it and designed it). Yi was so successful because he knew that the war was inevitable and that he had to prepare either way through his knowledge of the tides, his use of the turtle ship, his Panokseon warships, his loyalty to his country and people, and his skills as a general.

Yi resurrected and built the turtle ship, that is his own credit, he was smart enough to use an advantage beforehand.

Cicero

Horatio Nelson in war and Jackie Fisher in peace.

Paulinus

Some notable absentees:

George Anson who circumnavigated the globe and captured the Manilla Galleon (probably the richest prize ever taken) before going on to mastermind the British victories in the Seven Year's War and instigate naval reforms that cemented the Royal Navy as the world's leading navy

Edward Hawke who led the defeat of the French navy at Quiberon Bay

Linschoten

Jackie Fisher would certainly win any contest for the oddest admiral. It is amusing that Hungary, as a landlocked nation with no navy, should have been ruled by Admiral Horthy between the wars.

poser765

A little late to respond but me thinks the joke went right by you.

rehabnonono

Hey Poser, Hornblower is a fictional character, thus the fairytale forum joke down the yellow brick road... did you get it....fiction-fairytale? Ha thought mine was at least as good as yours.