Battle of Pungdo
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Pungdo or Feng-tao (Japanese: 豊島沖海戦) was the first naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War
. It took place on 25 July 1894 offshore of Asan
, Chungcheongnam-do
Korea
between cruiser
s of the Imperial Japanese Navy
of Meiji Japan
and components of the Beiyang Fleet
of Qing
China
.
. While China tried to maintain her suzerain relationship with Korea, Japan wanted to make Korea her own colony. Both countries had already had troops in Korea as requested by different factions within the Korean government. Chinese troops, stationed in Asan, south of Seoul, numbering 3,000 at early July, were supplied only by sea through the Bay of Asan (Asan-Man). This presented a situation very similar to the beginning of the Yorktown campaign
during the American Revolution
.
The Japanese plan was to blockade the entrance of the Bay of Asan, while her land forces would move overland to encircle the Chinese army detachment in Asan before more Chinese troops arrived by sea.
Some amongst the Chinese Beiyang Fleet Command were aware of this dangerous situation and had advocated either the withdrawal of troops further north to Pyongyang
(Captain of Cruiser Tsi-yuan, Fang Boqian, who would be the ranking officer in the Battle of Pungdo, among them), or the sailing with the entire Beiyang fleet to sea south of Inchon as a deterrent against Japanese intentions. However, the Qing leadership was split between Beiyang Commander Li Hongzhang
’s basic instinct to protect his fleet from danger and Emperor Guangxu’s demand for a stronger stand. As a compromise, the detachment at Asan was to be reinforced for the time being under escort by ships already on station in Korean waters. Inaction paralyzed the Chinese command on the eve of all-out war.
, Naniwa
and Akitsushima
, which had been patrolling in the Yellow Sea
off of Asan
, Chungcheongnam-do
, Korea
, encountered the Chinese cruiser Tsi-yuan (済遠) and gunboat
Kwang-yi (広乙). These vessels had steamed out of Asan in order to meet another Chinese gunboat, the Tsao-kiang (操江), which was convoying a transport toward Asan. The two Chinese vessels did not return the salute of the Japanese ships as required under International Maritime regulations, and when the Japanese turned to the southwest, the Chinese opened fire.
According to Chinese battle records, The Chinese ships, Cruiser Tsi-yuan and Torpedo gunboat Kwang-Yi , in port in Asan since July 23, left on the morning of July 25 and were on their way to rendezvous with the troop transport ships Kow-shing (高陞) and supply ship Tsao-kiang en route from Tianjin
. At 7:45 am, Near Pundo, an island sitting next to both of the only two navigable channels out of Asan-Man (Bay of Asan),http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/korea/txu-oclc-6612232-nj52-9.jpg
in Korean territorial waters, the two Chinese ships were fired upon by three Japanese cruisers Akitsushima, Naniwa, and Yoshino. Chinese ships returned fire at 7:52 am.
After an exchange of fire for over an hour, the Tsi-yuen broke off the engagement and escaped; however, the Kwang-yi was stranded on some rocks, and its gunpowder magazine exploded. In the meantime the Tsao-kiang and the transport vessel Kow-shing, flying a British
civil ensign
and conveying some 1,200 Chinese troops
and stores, had the unfortunate timing of appearing on the scene.
The Tsao-kiang was quickly captured, and the Kow-shing was ordered to follow the Japanese cruiser Naniwa to the main Japanese squadron. However, the Chinese soldiers on board revolted, and threatened to kill the English captain, Galsworthy, unless he took them back to China. After four hours of negotiation, when the Chinese troops were momentarily distracted, Galsworthy and the British crew jumped overboard and attempted to swim to the Naniwa, but were fired upon by the Chinese troops. Most of the sailors were killed，but Galsworthy and two crewmen were rescued by the Japanese. The Naniwa then opened fire on the Kow-shing, sinking her and her mutineers. A few on board (including German
military advisor Major von Hanneken) escaped by swimming ashore. First hand accounts from the time contradict this version of events. The first officer of the Kow-shing gave an interview to The Times of London on October 25, 1894 stating that the Chinese troops were distracted by a torpedo launched from the Naniwa and he was only able to jump overboard after the Naniwa started shelling the Kow-shing. He also stated that the crew of the Naniwa sunk two lifeboats full of Chinese Troops. Only three out of the forty three crew of the Kow Shing survived the sinking.
Chinese casualties were approximately 1,100, including more than 800 from the troop transport Kow-shing alone, against none for the Japanese.
four days later. Formal declarations of war came only after the battle of Seonghwan.
The Naniwa was under the command of Captain (later Admiral) Togo Heihachiro
. The sinking of the Kow-shing almost caused a diplomatic incident between Japan
and Great Britain
, but British jurists ruled that the action was in conformity with International Law
regarding the treatment of mutineers.
The sinking was also specifically cited by the Chinese government as one of the “treacherous actions” by the Japanese in their declaration of war against Japan.
One major result of this battle was the introduction of western rules of maritime prize into Japanese law. On August 21, 1894, a new Japanese law provided for the establishment of a Japanese prize court at Sasebo
to judge on such matters.
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
. It took place on 25 July 1894 offshore of Asan
Asan
Asan is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , bordering the Seoul Metropolitan Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 250,000.Asan is known for its hot springs and is a city of spas....
, Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
between cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
of Meiji Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and components of the Beiyang Fleet
Beiyang Fleet
The Beiyang Fleet was one of the four modernised Chinese navies in the late Qing Dynasty. Among the four, the Beiyang Fleet was particularly sponsored by Li Hongzhang, one of the most trusted vassals of Empress Dowager Cixi and the principal patron of the "self-strengthening movement" in northern...
of Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Background
Both Qing China and Japan had been intervening in Korea against the Donghak Peasant RevolutionDonghak Peasant Revolution
The Donghak Peasant Revolution, also known as the Donghak Peasant Movement, was an anti-government, anti-feudal and anti-foreign uprising in 1894 in the southern Korea which was the catalyst for the First Sino-Japanese War....
. While China tried to maintain her suzerain relationship with Korea, Japan wanted to make Korea her own colony. Both countries had already had troops in Korea as requested by different factions within the Korean government. Chinese troops, stationed in Asan, south of Seoul, numbering 3,000 at early July, were supplied only by sea through the Bay of Asan (Asan-Man). This presented a situation very similar to the beginning of the Yorktown campaign
Yorktown campaign
The Yorktown or Virginia campaign was a series of military maneuvers and battles during the American Revolutionary War that culminated in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in October 1781...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
The Japanese plan was to blockade the entrance of the Bay of Asan, while her land forces would move overland to encircle the Chinese army detachment in Asan before more Chinese troops arrived by sea.
Some amongst the Chinese Beiyang Fleet Command were aware of this dangerous situation and had advocated either the withdrawal of troops further north to Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
(Captain of Cruiser Tsi-yuan, Fang Boqian, who would be the ranking officer in the Battle of Pungdo, among them), or the sailing with the entire Beiyang fleet to sea south of Inchon as a deterrent against Japanese intentions. However, the Qing leadership was split between Beiyang Commander Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
’s basic instinct to protect his fleet from danger and Emperor Guangxu’s demand for a stronger stand. As a compromise, the detachment at Asan was to be reinforced for the time being under escort by ships already on station in Korean waters. Inaction paralyzed the Chinese command on the eve of all-out war.
The battle
According to Japanese records, at 0700 on 25 July 1894, the Japanese cruisers YoshinoJapanese cruiser Yoshino
was a 2nd class protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed and built by the Armstrong Whitworth shipyards in Elswick, in Great Britain. Yoshino is sometimes regarded as a sister ship to the , although the two vessels are of different classes...
, Naniwa
Japanese cruiser Naniwa
was the first protected cruiser built specifically for the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the lead ship of the s, built in the Armstrong Whitworth shipyard in Great Britain. The name Naniwa comes from an ancient province of Japan, now part of Osaka-fu...
and Akitsushima
Japanese cruiser Akitsushima
was a 2nd class protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed and built by the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in Japan. The name Akitsushima comes from an ancient name for Japan, as used in the ancient chronicle Kojiki...
, which had been patrolling in the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
off of Asan
Asan
Asan is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , bordering the Seoul Metropolitan Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 250,000.Asan is known for its hot springs and is a city of spas....
, Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, encountered the Chinese cruiser Tsi-yuan (済遠) and gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
Kwang-yi (広乙). These vessels had steamed out of Asan in order to meet another Chinese gunboat, the Tsao-kiang (操江), which was convoying a transport toward Asan. The two Chinese vessels did not return the salute of the Japanese ships as required under International Maritime regulations, and when the Japanese turned to the southwest, the Chinese opened fire.
According to Chinese battle records, The Chinese ships, Cruiser Tsi-yuan and Torpedo gunboat Kwang-Yi , in port in Asan since July 23, left on the morning of July 25 and were on their way to rendezvous with the troop transport ships Kow-shing (高陞) and supply ship Tsao-kiang en route from Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
. At 7:45 am, Near Pundo, an island sitting next to both of the only two navigable channels out of Asan-Man (Bay of Asan),http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/korea/txu-oclc-6612232-nj52-9.jpg
in Korean territorial waters, the two Chinese ships were fired upon by three Japanese cruisers Akitsushima, Naniwa, and Yoshino. Chinese ships returned fire at 7:52 am.
After an exchange of fire for over an hour, the Tsi-yuen broke off the engagement and escaped; however, the Kwang-yi was stranded on some rocks, and its gunpowder magazine exploded. In the meantime the Tsao-kiang and the transport vessel Kow-shing, flying a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
civil ensign
Civil ensign
The civil ensign is the national flag flown by civil ships to denote nationality...
and conveying some 1,200 Chinese troops
Beiyang Army
The Beiyang Army was a powerful, Western-style Chinese military force created by the Qing Dynasty government in the late 19th century. It was the centerpiece of a general reconstruction of China's military system. The Beiyang Army played a major role in Chinese politics for at least three decades...
and stores, had the unfortunate timing of appearing on the scene.
The Tsao-kiang was quickly captured, and the Kow-shing was ordered to follow the Japanese cruiser Naniwa to the main Japanese squadron. However, the Chinese soldiers on board revolted, and threatened to kill the English captain, Galsworthy, unless he took them back to China. After four hours of negotiation, when the Chinese troops were momentarily distracted, Galsworthy and the British crew jumped overboard and attempted to swim to the Naniwa, but were fired upon by the Chinese troops. Most of the sailors were killed，but Galsworthy and two crewmen were rescued by the Japanese. The Naniwa then opened fire on the Kow-shing, sinking her and her mutineers. A few on board (including German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
military advisor Major von Hanneken) escaped by swimming ashore. First hand accounts from the time contradict this version of events. The first officer of the Kow-shing gave an interview to The Times of London on October 25, 1894 stating that the Chinese troops were distracted by a torpedo launched from the Naniwa and he was only able to jump overboard after the Naniwa started shelling the Kow-shing. He also stated that the crew of the Naniwa sunk two lifeboats full of Chinese Troops. Only three out of the forty three crew of the Kow Shing survived the sinking.
Chinese casualties were approximately 1,100, including more than 800 from the troop transport Kow-shing alone, against none for the Japanese.
Aftermath of the battle
The battle had a direct impact on the fighting on land. The one-thousand-strong Chinese enforcement on board Kow-shing and military supplies on board Tsao-kiang failed to reach Asan. And the outnumbered and isolated Chinese detachment in Asan was attacked and defeated in the subsequent Battle of SeonghwanBattle of Seonghwan
The Battle of Seonghwan was the first major land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. It took place on 29 July 1894 at Seonghwan, outside of Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do Korea between the forces of Meiji Japan and Qing China...
four days later. Formal declarations of war came only after the battle of Seonghwan.
The Naniwa was under the command of Captain (later Admiral) Togo Heihachiro
Togo Heihachiro
Fleet Admiral Marquis was a Fleet Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and one of Japan's greatest naval heroes. He was termed by Western journalists as "the Nelson of the East".-Early life:...
. The sinking of the Kow-shing almost caused a diplomatic incident between Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, but British jurists ruled that the action was in conformity with International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
regarding the treatment of mutineers.
The sinking was also specifically cited by the Chinese government as one of the “treacherous actions” by the Japanese in their declaration of war against Japan.
One major result of this battle was the introduction of western rules of maritime prize into Japanese law. On August 21, 1894, a new Japanese law provided for the establishment of a Japanese prize court at Sasebo
Sasebo
Sasebo or may refer to:* Sasebo, Nagasaki, a city in Japan and a base of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the city, later of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force* United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, a post-WWII United States Navy Base in the city...
to judge on such matters.