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Madras fuel tanks on fire, WWI
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Madras fuel tanks on fire, WWI
Oil tanks of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, a subsidiary of the Burmah Oil Company, on fire in Madras (now Chennai), India, and belching thick black smoke after being shelled by the German light cruiser SMS Emden which caused havoc for British ships in the Indian Ocean during World War One. Date: 22nd September 1914
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Media ID 14118734
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22nd Anglo Burmah Chennai Emden Fuel Madras Persian Shelled Tanks
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the aftermath of the daring raid by the German light cruiser SMS Emden on the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's fuel tanks in Madras, India, on September 22, 1914. During World War One, the Emden, under the command of Captain Karl von Müller, caused havoc in the Indian Ocean by sinking or damaging several British ships. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company, a subsidiary of the Burmah Oil Company, was a significant supplier of oil to the British Royal Navy. The tanks in Madras, located on the Coromandel Coast, were a crucial source of fuel for British naval vessels. In this photograph, the oil tanks are engulfed in flames and thick black smoke, the result of the successful shelling by the Emden. The destruction of these tanks caused significant disruption to the British naval operations in the region, as they struggled to find alternative sources of fuel. The raid on Madras was a major victory for the German Navy in the early stages of the war, demonstrating their ability to inflict damage on British interests beyond European waters. The incident underscores the strategic importance of oil resources during wartime and the far-reaching consequences of military actions on global supply chains. This historical photograph is a poignant reminder of the impact of World War One on India and the wider world.
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