Described as a torpedo boat large model. Laid down at the shipyard of Yarrow&Co., London, England, launched in 1888, trials on 13 July and stricken in 1919. Building costs ƒ 156.000,-. Displacement 89 tons and as dimensions 39,31 x 4,07 x 1,83 metres. The 1.089 ihp horsepower allowed a speed of 22,83 miles. With a crew numbering 26 men consisted the armament of 2-3,7cm guns, 2 torpedo tubes and 1 torpedo gun. In a descript of 1888 it was mentioned that it was contemplated to fit her out at the stern with two torpedo tubes on a revolving turntable for side fire. The original locomotive boiler was replaced in 1897 by two water tube boilers and an extra funnel placed. She had since then 3 funnels, two before the fore boiler and one before the aft boiler. In 1910 was at the navy yard at Hellevoetsluis her bridge replaced by the one coming from the condemned Goentoer. In 1919 was she stricken. The newspaper Het Vaderland dated 21 October 1920 reported that she was sold lying on the navy yard at Hellevoetsluis for ƒ 5.250 to the N.V. Scheepsslooperij C.H.C. Sunderman at Zwijndrecht, where ships were broken up.
The British magazine The Engineer dated 2 November 1888 p.376 published a magnificent drawing of her. In description was written that’s she was similar to the in 1886 for the Royal British navy built torpedo boat no. 79 but also like the one built for other countries like China. She had a long turtle shaped deck forward where the crew accommodation and the 2-17’ torpedo tubes were situated. The conning tower was located immediately after the end of this deck. The steering gear hand and/or steam was placed in the tower and in the compartment directly under the tower were the galley and cooking conveniences. The modern locomotive boiler (at hat moment was she still with just one boiler fitted out] was more or less protected by coal bunkers fore and at both sides. After what was called the stokehole came the engine room with the t1.200 ihp triple expansion engines. Then came the cabin for the chief engineer and magazine followed by the quarters for the officers, a pantry to store provisions and finally at the end of the torpedo boat another storage. She executed two official trials, one during two hours with 16,2 tons load and achieving a mean speed of 22,8 knots and another during one hour with a 7 tons load achieving a speed of 24,1 knots.
In the magazine Marineblad dated 1889-1889 no.5 was the navy budget for 1890 discussed and reported that for several torpedo boats like the Empong torpedo guns were bought without supplying more details. In the discussion around the navy budget for 1887 asked Parliaments member Rooseboom if the six ordered torpedo guns (costs ƒ 42.000) were meant for the torpedo boats large model. Minister for Navy Trompp answered that the torpedo guns were meant for the Friso (2) and the Cycloop, Ardjoeno, Dempo and Batok. Later Parliamentpapers also supplied some details with the purchase of torpedo guns for the torpedo boats and other ships. When the navy budget for 1891 was discussed was the German Berliner Maschinenbau Actien Gesellschaft at Berlin, Germany mentioned as the factory where launching devices and torpedo guns were manufactured.
The newspaper Javabode dated 9 September 1887 reported that the new torpedo boat being built at Yarrow&Co. was called Empong. In the same time were Dutch shipyards like the Kon.Mij. De Schelde at Flushing also building torpedo boats.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag dated 1 August 1888 reported the departure of the Dutch steam schooner De Schelde towards London to escort the Empong when she would depart for Willemsoord, Netherlands. The edition dated Wednesday 22 August supplied more details. The Empong would depart a week later after her crew was arrived at London. The De Schelde had left on Sunday Nieuwediep with on board the crew of the Empong commanded by lieutenant 1st class S.K. Sybrandi. The newspaper De Locomotief dated 11 September reported that she achieved a speed of 22,8 miles during a trial kept on the Thames.
