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Southern Song Navy

Type Object Region Asia Time c. 1127–1279

The Southern Song navy was a dedicated naval force built on the waterways of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, standing alongside the imperial guards' inf…

Timeline

  1. c. 1129–1140Around Zhenjiang and Jiankang prefectures · Jiangnan East CircuitDuring the Jianyan era, the Song court incorporated local boat forces and volunteer army navies along the Yangtze, established naval camps and stockades, and formed dedicated river defense units with warships such as sea-falcon and mengchong vessels.
  2. c. 1141–1150Yangtze River defense line · ChinaAfter the 1141 Shaoxing peace treaty, Song and Jin were divided by the Huai River; the Southern Song navy focused on defending the Yangtze defense line, establishing naval camps at Caishi, Ruxu Pass, and other locations, conducting regular patrols and standing guard.
  3. c. 1145–1150Caishi Reef · Taiping PrefectureIn the 1140s the navy was equipped with large warships and ballistae, and experimented with gunpowder weapons in naval combat; at strategic points such as Caishi Reef, ambush stakes and iron chains were set up to block the river, forming a systematic river defense tactic.

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