Battle of Penang

Battle of Penang
Part of the Asian theatre of World War I
SMS Emden passing through the Penang Strait over the French torpedo boat, behind Zhemchug (painting by Carl Saltzmann)
Date 28 October 1914 Location Penang Strait, off Penang, Straits Settlements, British Malaya 5°24′19″N 100°21′9″E / 5.40528°N 100.35250°E / 5.40528; 100.35250 Result German victory
Belligerents
Russia  France Great Britain	Germany
Commanders and leaders
I. A. Cherkassov Félix Théroinne †	Karl von Müller
Strength
1 protected cruiser 1 cruiser 2 destroyers	1 light cruiser
Casualties and losses
135 killed 157 wounded 1 protected cruiser sunk 1 destroyer sunk	None

The Battle of Penang (Russian: Бой у Пенанга; French: Combat de Penang; German: Schlacht von Penang) was a surprise naval engagement by the Imperial German Navy's East Asia Squadron during the First World War that took place on 28 October 1914. The battle involved the German cruiser SMS Emden in the Penang Strait, which sank two Allied warships as part of its commerce raiding operations throughout the Indian Ocean. During the battle, a total of 135 French and Russian sailors were killed and 157 others were wounded, while the Germans sustained no casualties. It was the only battle of the war fought in British Malaya.