The turtle ship, also known as the kobukson, was designed by Admiral Yi. It was the first iron clad ship in the world. This armed warship played a significant part in Korea’s victory over Japanese naval forces. Yi Sun-sin used overlapping iron plates like the carapace (hard shell) of a turtle, to give stronger protection against enemy arrows and gun shots. Cannons were placed to give all round offensive fire, iron spikes guarded the ship, and a dragons head at the prow blew out frightening plumes of smoke.