S.M.S. EMDEN HISTORY. The most famous ship during and since the first world war. This German raider terrorized the Indian and Pacific Oceans for 3 months during WW1. Under the command of Kapitan Karl von Muller the Emden destroyed 16 British ships totalling 70,825 G.R.T. She seized a Russian auxilary cruiser, a Greek and a British ship were used as colliers. Four British ships were released after capture. She brazenly sailed into Madras harbour and shelled the oil tanks of the Anglo Persian Oil Co, followed by a daring dash into Penang harbour to sink the Russian cruiser Zhemchug. The adventures of the Emden were avidly followed in the Kaiser's Germany and also in the British Empire. In all these exploits only a single merchant sailor's life was lost in a campaign that cost the British 16 ships. Finally on the 9th November 1914 off Direction Island the Emden was caught by the cruiser Sydney. The one sided fight against the much more powerful Sydney resulted in the Emden being run aground on North Keeling island where she still lies to this day. 134 of the crew were dead or dying. The full story of this famous ship is far to long to be told here, we can only recommend the book "EMDEN The last cruise of a chivalrous raider", to tell the complete story. S.M.S EMDEN. Specifications.Laid down 6/4/1906Launched 20/5/1908Commissioned 20/7/1909Builder Kaiserliche Werf Danzig.Dimensions Length 389ft.Beam 44 ft.Draught 16ft.Dispacement 3650 tons.Machinery Vertical 3 cylinder Boilers Schulz-ThorneycroftOutput 16,171 b.h.p.Speed Max. 25 knotsArmament 10 x 105mm singles. 4 x 8mm M.G.s 3 x 60mm portables 2 x 8mm "" 2 x 450mm torpedo tubes | 
