The destruction of SMS Emden at the hands of the Australian light cruiser MAS Sydney on 9 November 1914 has been told before, but no English-language book has ever pieced, together such a vivid and comprehensive account of the action. Extensive use has been made of a wealth of first-hand accounts from letters, diaries, memoirs and German survivor statements to produce a detailed and riveting reconstruction of the battle at Cocos. But the book is much more than the account of one naval battle. The Emden's activities as a raider at the beginning of the war are outlined, and the significance of the departure of the first ANZAC troop convoy and Sydney's involvement explained. The Cocos raid by Emden, the landing of von Mückes party, and the dispatch of Sydney to investigate are covered, while new light is shone on Captain Glossop's controversial decision to open fire on the wreck of the Emden once she had run ashore. And drawing on the reports produced by Sydney's surgeons, the book presents a facet of naval action often overlooked - namely the terrible effect of high explosive shells on the human body. This book takes the reader right to the center of the action and brings alive the immediacy and horror of naval warfare for those who took part. Book jacket.