From 1958, he researched 20th-century naval songs, which resulted in his book Grey Funnel Lines (1987).
The shortage of vessels and the poor quality of those available prevented the Jin from ferrying more soldiers needed for fighting a naval battle with the Song.
There were large naval ships in the Song that could carry 1,000 soldiers aboard their decks, while the swift-moving paddle-wheel crafts were viewed as essential fighting ships in any successful naval battle.
A naval battle between Jin and Song took place on November 26 and 27, 1161.
It was also during the Song period that naval ships were first armed with gunpowder weapons.
Surely it was going to be a song of the sea, with a naval take on the season's pervasive military theme?
At a rally at the Charlestown Naval Yard, he was introduced to the Bruce Springsteen song "No Surrender" and took its lyrics as his charge.
With a permanent navy, the Song were prepared to face the naval forces of the Jin on the Yangtze River in 1161, in the Battle of Tangdao and the Battle of Caishi.
At Tsuchiura naval air base, home for many of the tokkotai, the song they sung most often was nothing patriotic, but a lullaby in the Kumamoto dialect that went: "I am here far away from home.
During these battles the Song navy employed swift paddle wheel driven naval vessels armed with trebuchet catapults aboard the decks that launched gunpowder bombs.
Some call him a Chinese naval officer.
