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.

Year by Year

Discover the history of the HMS Cossack from 1854 to 1875.

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.

27 May 1869

Calm increasing to force 5 at midday from a Southerly direction. Barometer dropping from 30.16 to 30.07 over 5 hours. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. In dinghy and copper punt. Rove messenger. Carpenter making gratings hatchways. Blacksmith at work. 1315. Wind force 5 decreasing to 1 at 2000 and then increasing to 4 at Midnight. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour under steam.

1440 Stopped and made all plain sail.

1455 NE Point Johanna SSE 2 miles. Shaped course NE ½ N.

1700 Quarters.

1850 Up C…

Calm increasing to force 5 at midday from a Southerly direction. Barometer dropping from 30.16 to 30.07 over 5 hours. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. In dinghy and copper punt. Rove messenger. Carpenter making gratings hatchways. Blacksmith at work. 1315. Wind force 5 decreasing to 1 at 2000 and then increasing to 4 at Midnight. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour under steam.

1440 Stopped and made all plain sail.

1455 NE Point Johanna SSE 2 miles. Shaped course NE ½ N.

1700 Quarters.

1850 Up Courses. Steaming. Stopped and set Courses.

28 May 1869

Latitude  10.29S Longitude 45.30E. Course NE ½ N making for Trincomalee Ceylon (Now Shri Lanka) Wind South to SSW Force ¾ gusting 5.

0210 latitude by observation 11.18S.

0625 Set Starboard Top stud sail.

1010. Squared yards. Up Mainsail. Small arms men of the watch at drill.

1230 Course NE by E. 1315. Trimmed.. making and mending clothing.

1645 Mustered at Quarters. Shifted upper sails on deck. In one reef of Topsail and in Top stud sail.

2115 Trimmed and set Mainsail.

2200 In Royals.

29 May 1869

Latitude 9.59S. Longitude 46.30E. Course NE by E / ENE / NE by E. Wind 2 to 3 increasing to 5 at midday and to 6 at Midnight. Barometer dropping from 30.12 inches to 30.07 over 5 hours before recovering to 30.11 inches. Temperature 81F.

0635 Course ENE. Trimmed.

0730 Trimmed. Swell from SE. Cleaned ship throughout.

1110 in Top gallant sail.

1140 Down jib.

PM continued to clean ship.

1650 Mustered by Divisions. Inspected clean hammocks. In second reef of Top sails. Trimmed.

1700 Course NE by E.

1…

Latitude 9.59S. Longitude 46.30E. Course NE by E / ENE / NE by E. Wind 2 to 3 increasing to 5 at midday and to 6 at Midnight. Barometer dropping from 30.12 inches to 30.07 over 5 hours before recovering to 30.11 inches. Temperature 81F.

0635 Course ENE. Trimmed.

0730 Trimmed. Swell from SE. Cleaned ship throughout.

1110 in Top gallant sail.

1140 Down jib.

PM continued to clean ship.

1650 Mustered by Divisions. Inspected clean hammocks. In second reef of Top sails. Trimmed.

1700 Course NE by E.

1810 Up mainsail. Trimmed. Set mainsail.

30 May 1869

Latitude 6.36S Longitude 48.25E. Course NE by E until 1400 then ENE. Wind SSE Force 5 to 6. Barometer dropping from 30.16 inches to 30.08 inches over four hours and then to 30.00 inches at 1400. Reading at Midnight 30.05 inches. Speed through the water 5 to 7 knots.

0200. Up mainsail. In Mizzen top sails. Latitude by Altair 7.9S (Altair (α Aquilae, α Aql) is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky)

0645 Set lee clew of Mainsail.

0945 Divis…

Latitude 6.36S Longitude 48.25E. Course NE by E until 1400 then ENE. Wind SSE Force 5 to 6. Barometer dropping from 30.16 inches to 30.08 inches over four hours and then to 30.00 inches at 1400. Reading at Midnight 30.05 inches. Speed through the water 5 to 7 knots.

0200. Up mainsail. In Mizzen top sails. Latitude by Altair 7.9S (Altair (α Aquilae, α Aql) is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky)

0645 Set lee clew of Mainsail.

0945 Divisions – read prayers.

0200 altered course to ENE.

1645 Mustered at Quarters.

31 May 1869

Latitude 5.00S Longitude 49.24E. Course ENE. Wind SSE force 4 to 6.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Boys at seamanship.

1400 Out 2nd reef of Top sail. Set Weather clew of Mainsail. Swell from SE.

1850 Mustered at Quarters. Scrubbed hammocks.

01 June 1869

Latitude 5.31S longitude 51.50E. Course ENE. Wind Southerly Wind Force 4 increasing to 6.

0550. Set Mizzen top sail. Out reefs of topsails. Trimmed. Set Top gallant sail and Jib. Set Starboard topmast stud sail. Quarters and prayers.

1530 In Fore Top Stud sail

1650. Quarters Inspected clean hammocks. In first reef of Top sails. Stored anchors and unbended cables.

02 June 1869

Latitude 1.45S Longitude 54.54E.Course ENE. Wind SSE Force 4 to 5 decreasing to 3 to 4.  Equator bearing 58EN by E 218 miles. A heavy swell from SE.

0600 Out reefs.

0730 Set Foretop stud sail.

0900 Prayers and exercised at General Quarters. Set lower stud sails.

1315 In lower stud sails. Trimmed. Training party of watch at drill. Fitting of spare Foretop yard.

1650 Mustered at Quarters. Exercised at fire quarters.

23.37 latitude by Antares 1.10S. (Antares is a red supergiant star that is nearin…

Latitude 1.45S Longitude 54.54E.Course ENE. Wind SSE Force 4 to 5 decreasing to 3 to 4.  Equator bearing 58EN by E 218 miles. A heavy swell from SE.

0600 Out reefs.

0730 Set Foretop stud sail.

0900 Prayers and exercised at General Quarters. Set lower stud sails.

1315 In lower stud sails. Trimmed. Training party of watch at drill. Fitting of spare Foretop yard.

1650 Mustered at Quarters. Exercised at fire quarters.

23.37 latitude by Antares 1.10S. (Antares is a red supergiant star that is nearing the end of its life. Once there is no more fuel left to burn, the star will collapse and explode into a supernova).

03 June 1869

Latitude 0.47S. Longitude 57.31E. course ENE. Wind Southerly Force 2 to 4.

0400. Up windward clew of Mainsail.

0415. Trimmed.

0910 Quarters and prayers.. marines at rifle drill. Fitting spare foretop gallant yard.. Set Royals and lower stud sail.

PM Making and mending clothes.

1650 Mustered at quarters. Scrubbed and washed clothes. In Royals and lower stud sails.

04 June 1869

ude 0.21N. Longitude 60.52E. Course ENE. Wind southerly Force 3 increasing to 5 early morning before dropping to 3.

0120. In Top stud sails.

0800 swell from South.

0900 Quarters and prayers.

1230 altered course to E ¼ N.

1430 Set Royals and Fore stud sail.

1630 Quarters.

1815 In Mizzen Royal. Set Fore trysail.

2045 Trimmed.. 2320 In Royals and Fore stud sail. Trimmed.

06 June 1869

Latitude.1.20 N. Longitude 65.17 E. Course ENE / NE by E / ENE / East / E ¾ S / E by S. Wind Southerly. Force 2/3 Becoming 1 / 2.

0310 Braced forward.

1610 Set Courses. Out reefs and set Royals and Top stud sails.. Mustered by the Open List. Performed Divine Service.

1600. Quarters. Lightening to SSW.

2120 In Royals and Fore Stud sail .

2240 Up courses.

2340 Trimmed.

07 June 1869

Latitude 1.34N. Longitude 65.49. Course Round the compass (Becalmed) Eventually E by S. Wind Northerly Force  0 to  2.

0445. Trimmed and set Foresail.

0745 Trimmed.

0900 Quarters and prayers. Training party at gun drill. Served main tack and covering of clew line. (Serving – to cover part of the rope in spun yarn to make it smooth.)

1315 Made all lain sail save the Spanker. Set Fore top stud sails. Trimmed. Midshipmen at cutlass drill.

1640 Quarters.

08 June 1869

Latitude 1.32N. Longitude 67.31E. course ESE. Wind NW Force 1 / 2.

0730. Set Top gallant stud sails.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Up windward clew of Mainsail. Trimmed. Prayers. Small arms men of watch at drill and firing blanks. Boys at sail drill. Set lower stud sails. Set windward clew of mainsail. Up mainsail.

1300 Cutlass men at drill.

1330 Wind shifted suddenly to SW with heavy rain. In stud sails, Royals and Flying jib. Braced round. Up Courses.

1945 Set Courses.

22.20 Up lee clew of mainsa…

Latitude 1.32N. Longitude 67.31E. course ESE. Wind NW Force 1 / 2.

0730. Set Top gallant stud sails.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Up windward clew of Mainsail. Trimmed. Prayers. Small arms men of watch at drill and firing blanks. Boys at sail drill. Set lower stud sails. Set windward clew of mainsail. Up mainsail.

1300 Cutlass men at drill.

1330 Wind shifted suddenly to SW with heavy rain. In stud sails, Royals and Flying jib. Braced round. Up Courses.

1945 Set Courses.

22.20 Up lee clew of mainsail. Braced round.

09 June 1869

Latitude 1.19N. Longitude 70.11E. Course E by S ½ S. Wind South-westerly Force 1 to 3.

0610 Trimmed. Made all plain sail save spanker. Exercised at General Quarters. Squared yards. Up mainsail.

1250.In Royals. Down Flying Jib.

1410. Trimmed and up Foresail.

14.45 Set Foresail.

1940 set le clew of mainsail.

2130 Up mainsail.

2150. Braced round to a light breeze from the North. Up Foresail and braced round.

10 June 1869

Latitude 0.56N Longitude 71.16E. Course East until 1300 and then NE by E. Wind Starting SW / West / NW / West / NNW / calm. Force 2 to 4 dying to a calm.

0120 main Top gallant sheet carried away and was spliced. Set Top Gallant sail. Trimmed. In Top gallant sails. A squall from the west at force 4. Trimmed and set Foresail.. Set fore and main Top gallant sails. Set Port stud sails. Mustered at Quarters. Boys at rifle drill.

1040 Up mainsails and squared yards. Course at Midday NE by S.

1300 comm…

Latitude 0.56N Longitude 71.16E. Course East until 1300 and then NE by E. Wind Starting SW / West / NW / West / NNW / calm. Force 2 to 4 dying to a calm.

0120 main Top gallant sheet carried away and was spliced. Set Top Gallant sail. Trimmed. In Top gallant sails. A squall from the west at force 4. Trimmed and set Foresail.. Set fore and main Top gallant sails. Set Port stud sails. Mustered at Quarters. Boys at rifle drill.

1040 Up mainsails and squared yards. Course at Midday NE by S.

1300 commenced steaming. In Stud sails. Braced forward. Employed making and mending clothes. Exchanged Colours with a French Mail steamer.

1750 In Royals and Flying Jib.

1955 Stopped steaming. Course E by N.

2040 In Tow gallant sails and up Foresail. Commenced steaming.

11 June 1869

Latitude 1.22N Longitude. 73.38E. Course ENE changing to NE by N. wind Northerly Force calm rising to 4 and falling back to I before rising again to 6. Daylight observed a barque.

0535 Stopped steaming.  Reefed topsails. Course NE by E. Out reefs and set Topgallant sails, Courses and top Stud sail. Quarters. Inspected arms. Exercised at General Quarters firing at a target. Boys at cutlass drill..

1237 course NE by N. Training party at drill. Carpenters working on gratings.

1550 In Top gallant s…

Latitude 1.22N Longitude. 73.38E. Course ENE changing to NE by N. wind Northerly Force calm rising to 4 and falling back to I before rising again to 6. Daylight observed a barque.

0535 Stopped steaming.  Reefed topsails. Course NE by E. Out reefs and set Topgallant sails, Courses and top Stud sail. Quarters. Inspected arms. Exercised at General Quarters firing at a target. Boys at cutlass drill..

1237 course NE by N. Training party at drill. Carpenters working on gratings.

1550 In Top gallant stud sails, top stud sails Royals and Flying Jib.

1655. Quarters  In first and second refs of Top sail.

2230 In Top gallant sails.

2315 Down Jib.

12 June 1869

Latitude 2.47N Longitude 76.03E. Course Northerly. Wind NW. Force 4 to 5 dropping to 3 / 4 before increasing to 5 at Midnight.

0010 Set Top gallant sails and Jib.

0630 Out second reef of Topsails. Cleaned ship throughout.

1040 Out reefs. Set Top stud sails.

1130 In Top gallant sails and top stud sails.

1400 Set Top gallant sails and Top Starboard stud sails.

1650 Divisions. In first reef of Top sails and Top stud sail.

2255 In Top stud sail and top gallant sails.

13 June 1869

Latitude 4.21N Longitude 78.154E. Course Northerly. Wind NNW to West. Force 3 rising to 6 at 0200 before dropping to 2/3.

0045 Up Main sail.

0300 set Set Main sail.

0550 Set Top Gallant sails and trimmed.

0745 Trimmed.

0935 Mustered by Divisions. Performed divine Service.

1600 Wind shifted to SE.

1615 Braced round. Up windward clew of Main sail. Course NE by E. Quarters. Trimmed.

1945 Trimmed. Up main sail.

14 June 1869

Latitude 5.52N Longitude 80.48E. Wind Westerly Force 4/5. Squared yards

0100 course ENE. Cables surveyed.

0555 land observed on Port bow. Course NE by E. Trimmed. Course NE. Surveying and paying down cables. Bent on cables. Left extent of land.

PM Employed at cleaning ship and scraping masts and booms.

1740 Course East. Scrubbed hammocks.

1900 Up Foresail and lowered Top gallant sails. Sounded in 57 fathoms. Wind increased from 4 to 6. Top Gallant port sheet carried away and re-spliced.

2330 Tri…

Latitude 5.52N Longitude 80.48E. Wind Westerly Force 4/5. Squared yards

0100 course ENE. Cables surveyed.

0555 land observed on Port bow. Course NE by E. Trimmed. Course NE. Surveying and paying down cables. Bent on cables. Left extent of land.

PM Employed at cleaning ship and scraping masts and booms.

1740 Course East. Scrubbed hammocks.

1900 Up Foresail and lowered Top gallant sails. Sounded in 57 fathoms. Wind increased from 4 to 6. Top Gallant port sheet carried away and re-spliced.

2330 Trimmed and set lee clew of main sail. Course North.

15 June 1869

Latitude 7.19N Longitude 82.16 E. Course NW by W Wind Westerly am changing to southerly from 1500. Force 5/6 moderating to 3 by midday and then further to1/2.

0600 course N by W.

0815 Set Fore Jib staysail and windward clew of main sail. Training party of watch at drill. Set fore and main Top gallant sails. 100 Westminster Abbey South73West.

1130 Out reefs. Set main Top gallant sail.

1330 Trimmed.

1515 Set Royals. Course NNW. Made up Stud sails. Divisions – Inspected clean hammocks.

1800 Friar…

Latitude 7.19N Longitude 82.16 E. Course NW by W Wind Westerly am changing to southerly from 1500. Force 5/6 moderating to 3 by midday and then further to1/2.

0600 course N by W.

0815 Set Fore Jib staysail and windward clew of main sail. Training party of watch at drill. Set fore and main Top gallant sails. 100 Westminster Abbey South73West.

1130 Out reefs. Set main Top gallant sail.

1330 Trimmed.

1515 Set Royals. Course NNW. Made up Stud sails. Divisions – Inspected clean hammocks.

1800 Friars Hood N88W.

1845 Trimmed,

2200 sounded in 65 Fathoms. 0000 sounded in 52 fathoms

16 June 1869

Latitude 8.23N Longitude 21.38 E. Course Northerly. Wind SW moving to westerly. Force ½ increasing to 4/5.

0200 Sounded in 58 fathoms – sand and coral.

0400 Sounded in39 fathoms – sand and coral. Lit fires in one boiler. In Royals and Top gallant sails. Up mainsail.

0550. Proceeded under steam. Furled sails. Exercised at General Quarters. Set forward Main topsail double reefed.

1320. Observed Foul point Light House W3/4E Furled sails and shaped course for Light House.

1340 Lit fires in seco…

Latitude 8.23N Longitude 21.38 E. Course Northerly. Wind SW moving to westerly. Force ½ increasing to 4/5.

0200 Sounded in 58 fathoms – sand and coral.

0400 Sounded in39 fathoms – sand and coral. Lit fires in one boiler. In Royals and Top gallant sails. Up mainsail.

0550. Proceeded under steam. Furled sails. Exercised at General Quarters. Set forward Main topsail double reefed.

1320. Observed Foul point Light House W3/4E Furled sails and shaped course for Light House.

1340 Lit fires in second boiler. Preparing for harbour.

1600 Passed Foul Point.

1705 Came to off the Dock Yard Trincomalee. In 14 fathoms and veered 56 fathoms.

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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