Japanese naval practice grew from moving soldiers between islands and delivering them to land battles. Its ships carried archers and arquebusiers and sought boarding actions, but salt water complicated gunpowder weapons and shipboard cannon were comparatively scarce. The invasion army nevertheless depended on these vessels for food, powder, shot, and reinforcements. The near absence of major naval battles during Japanese unification helps explain why a maritime country could still lack a standing battle-fleet tradition.
Chapter · 54:02-1:02:20
Japan's fleet moved armies but was not built for gunnery battles
Japanese ships supported transport, supply, archery, and boarding, while Korea's cannon-armed warships were organized for fighting at sea.