SMS Emden was a light cruiser of the Kaiserliche Marine launched on 26 May 1908 and commissioned on 10 July 1909.

SMS Emden was assigned to the Ostasiatische Station in Kiautschou for most of her career, and made frequent voyages through Germany’s Pacific colonies.  

Shortly after the outbreak of WWI, SMS Emden was detached from the rest of the East Asia Cruiser Squadron to conduct commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean, where she disrupted British shipping for over two months.  On 9 November 1914, she was severley damaged in battle with the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney, and forced to ground herself in the Cocos Islands.