Emden | Tier 2 | Cruiser

SMS Emden, the second Dresden-class cruiser, met the outbreak of World War I in the Far East as part of von Spee's squadron. In September 1914, Karl von Müller took command of the ship, which was detached for independent raiding in the Indian Ocean, and the cruiser captured nearly two dozen ships. Emden launched a surprise attack on Penang; in the resulting Battle of Penang, she sank Russian cruiser Zhemchug and French destroyer Mousquet. On November 9, 1914, during a raid on Cocos Islands, Emden was intercepted by Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney, sustained severe damage, and had to run aground near the shore to avoid sinking.