This is the story of the second ship to bear the name HMS Cossack.

Originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles, the ship was sold to the Hamburg trading house of Henry Mersk & Co. when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, as Russia feared possible confiscation.

The original contract price for the vessel, then named Witjas (Cossack), was £46,198, including £16,750 for machinery. The Admiralty subsequently paid the contractors £9,591 to complete the contract (of which £4,187 was for machinery), plus £751 for tonnage exceeding the specification and £2,206 for modifications for His Majesty’s service. The ship remained in service until 1875.

Ships Company

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Remarks: Discharged to HMS Bullfinch 6 June 1870 whilst COSSACK was moored in Port Victoria Harbour Maki.

Rank: Gr RMA
Rank: Stoker

Remarks: Died in hospital at Bombay from Typhoid fever at 1345 16 March 1875.

Rank: Chief Engineer

Remarks: Joined 29 January 1871 at Trincomalee.

Rank: Ordinary seaman

Remarks: Born Scotland, later resided in Co. Durham, was recorded as age 19 aboard the HMS Cossack in the 1871 UK Census. His rank was ordinary seaman. Before his sister married in March, 1876 in Co, Durham, he was reported 'lost at sea'. His father’s name was John Black, resided in Cassop Colliery, Durham previously lived Northumberland.

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Fell overboard at 1335 on 12 August 1871. Ship stopped; heaved to and picked up man and Life buoy.

Remarks: Fell overboard at 1730 28 February 1871 and was recovered by cutter.

Remarks: On board at April 1871.

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Sentenced to 30 days imprisonment on 13 September 1870.

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Found Guilty at his Court Martial held in November 1866 on board HMS Hibernia, of using threatening and obscene language and attempting to stab Daniel Denny, Master at Arms. Sentenced to 48 lashes, 2 years imprisonment, and to be dismissed the service with disgrace.

Hidden Gems

The Island of Kotka was attacked in 1855, but the garrison had already departed: barracks, stores and magazines etc were destroyed and the squadron left, leaving COSSACK in charge of the Island.

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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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