Detached from Admiral von Spee's German East Asia Squadron, Captain Karl von Müller brought SMS Emden into Madras on 26 September 1914. The cruiser fired roughly 130 shells in about half an hour, caused damage and embarrassed Britain, then escaped. A relatively small surface raider could therefore produce material and political effects against a coastal target. The attack also consumed a significant share of ammunition that Emden could not readily replace without secure resupply. This tradeoff set the raid's immediate effect against the endurance needed for continued commerce raiding.
Chapter · 13:53-15:20
SMS Emden's costly bombardment of Madras
Emden's 1914 attack damaged Madras and embarrassed Britain, but consumed scarce ammunition that the isolated raider could not replace.