This is the story of the first ship to bear the name HMS Cossack, a name later carried by five more ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh. This facility trains navies from around the world in boarding and searching vessels—a tradition inspired by the actions of the fifth ship of the name during the Altmark Incident.

Originally launched as Pandor, she was renamed Cossack in 1806. An interesting note: one of her captains was George Digby, whose descendant now serves as President of the HMS Cossack Association.

Year by Year

Discover the history of the HMS Cossack from 1806 to 1816.

You can search the ‘year’ and ‘month’ to find a specific date and also ‘click’ on the date itself to reveal any images and moments from that date.

16 January 1807

Completed at Chatham

22 June 1808

Under Captain George Digby boats (with those of COMET) destroyed forts at Santander.

01 August 1808

Captured the French ship Pierre Caesar (with HMS Seine and HMS Unicorn) and took the schooner LA MOUCHE in the Channel. (With HMS Unicorn). The Pierre Caesar was taken into service as HMS Tigress.

18 August 1809

Plymouth

13 September 1810

In Plymouth.

01 November 1810

Under Captain Thomas Garth in the Mediterranean

01 April 1811

Under Captain Thomas Searle

28 December 1811

Torbay. Arrived from Cadiz.

30 December 1811

Plymouth Arrived and put in quarantine.

02 January 1812

Released from quarantine.

03 January 1812

Plymouth

04 January 1812

Plymouth

12 January 1812

Deal Sailed for the Nore.

01 February 1812

Under Captain William King

19 May 1812

Deal. Sailed for Portsmouth.

07 June 1812

Sailed for Portugal

10 June 1812

The COSSACK, PREVOYANTE, PIQUE and JASPER, departed Portsmouth, with the Lisbon and Mediterranean convoys, the last two vessels only going as far as Cape Finisterre before returning to England.

01 February 1813

Under Captain Francis Stanfell in the Mediterranean

31 July 1813

Plymouth. Arrived from Bermuda.
Second source ​Arrived from Jamaica with dispatches and some of the crew of HM late brig PEACOCK, wounded in the action with the HORNET

1 September 1813

​Plymouth. Sailed to the westward.

Hidden Gems

The first HMS Cossack in 1814 had 3 Captains from March to August of 1814. Sibly, Weymss and Rodney.

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1806-1816

This is the account of the first vessel named HMS Cossack, a title that would be passed on to five later ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh.

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1854-1875

The second Cossack was originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles. However, when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, Russia sold the vessels to the Hamburg trading firm Henry Mersk & Co.

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1886-1905

This account covers the third vessel named HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886 and in service until 1905, she spent the majority of her career in the Far East, calling at India, Aden, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and other ports.

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1907-1919

The fourth HMS Cossack received the first Battle Honour for participating in operations along the Belgian coast from 17 October to 8 November 1914. This section contains copies of the original construction contract and detailed plans showing her launch, deck arrangements, and machinery.

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1938-1941

Credited with battle honours including Baltic 1855, Witu 1890, Dover Patrol 1914–1919, Narvik 1940, Norway 1940, Atlantic 1940–1941, the Bismarck Action 1941, and the Malta Convoys 1941, the HMS Cossack in service from 1938 to 1941 was a formidable presence.

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1944-1960

During Warship Week in February 1942, the town of Esher raised £1,192,211, contributing to the construction of the warship HMS Cossack. The funds were collected by the public depositing money into a rubber-type float in a pool. Remarkably, the surplus was enough to fund a submarine as well. The story continues.

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