After the court moved south to Hangzhou in 1127, exposed waterways, grain canals, and the capital itself needed permanent naval protection. The force grew from about 3,000 men in 1130 to nearly 52,000 by 1137, with bases guarding the capital, strategic river approaches, and ports. That mobile navy helped defeat a seaborne invasion in 1161 and offset some of the advantages held by cavalry-led enemies on land. Its weapons developed from catapult-launched fire bombs, made standard equipment in 1129, toward explosive weapons and early gun-like tubes.
Chapter · 2:35:10-2:39:47
Southern Song naval growth joined defence, mobility, and firearms
Watch the Southern Song navy grow into a mobile defensive force, then see how it used gunpowder weapons against maritime threats.