SMS Emden light cruiser was built by Kaiserliche Werft Danzig dockyard
(nowadays Gdańsk in Poland). The construction process began in 1906, the
launching of the ship took place on 26 May 1908. Together with SMS
Dresden, she belonged to Dresden protected cruiser class.
SMS Emden was put into service on 1 April 1910. Eleven days later she
was sent to the German colony Qingdao (Tsingtao) in China. The
destination was reached on September that year. There the ship was
incorporated into German East Asia Squadron. In 1913
Lieutenant-Commander Karl von Müller took command of the ship. He was
soon promoted to the rank of full Commander.