October 26 in Military History — On This Day

Battle of Myeongnyang

Ordered to abandon the navy and fight on land, Yi replied that he still had thirteen ships and that as long as he lived the enemy would not take the western sea. He drew a Japanese fleet of at least 133 warships into the Myeongnyang strait — a channel a few hundred metres wide where the tide runs at ten knots and reverses. The Japanese could only enter a few ships abreast, the current wrecked their formation, and Yi's thirteen ships destroyed over thirty of them. He lost none.

Probably the most lopsided naval victory ever won, and it saved the war. Japan's second invasion depended on the sea route; Myeongnyang closed it again with thirteen ships against a fleet ten times the size, using a tide Yi had spent his career learning. He had been tortured by his own government two months earlier. His diary entry that night records only that it was a great blessing of heaven.

Full battle details →

⚔️📍 Navarino Bay, Greece1827

Battle of Navarino — Greek Independence Won at Sea

British, French, and Russian squadrons destroyed the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet at Navarino Bay in the last major battle fought entirely by sailing ships, freeing Greece from Ottoman naval control. The Allied admirals had exceeded their orders.

Navarino secured Greek independence and was the last great battle of the age of sail, marking the end of an era that had lasted 300 years.

Outcome

Allied victory; Greek independence secured; age of sail ends

Casualties

8,000