HMAS Sydney

At 6 a.m., the radio operators signaled the arrival of an unidentifiable ship.

This was picked up by HMAS Sydney, about 60 miles away, which set sail towards the Cocos Islands at its top speed of 25 and a half knots, equivalent to 47 kilometers per hour or 29 miles per hour.

A landing party of two officers and 38 sailors, commanded by Lieutenant Helmut von Mucha, was sent ashore on Direction Island, one of the larger Cocos coral islands on the atoll.

As the Emden spotted HMAS Sydney in the far distance at around 9.30am, there was not enough time to recover the landing party and the Emden abandoned them.

The Sydney then attacked with its more powerful guns, damaged the Emden's steering gear and range finders, vital in assessing the distance of an enemy ship and causing many casualties among the gun crews.

A fire and exploding ammunition on board silenced the Emden's guns.

Captain Muller limped to North Keeling Island nearby where he beached his ship on a reef.

Muller then surrendered the ship.