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.

17 June 1869

At anchor at Trincomalee Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Wind SW force 4/5 with broken cloud. Temperature 84 to 89 F Barometer 29.90 inches.

0630 Coal lighter  alongside. Coaling ship.

1515 finished coaling ship Received 104 tons of coal.

18 June 1869

Wind SW  4/5 decreasing to ¾.

0915 Quarters and prayers. Marines firing at a target. Warrants read to five men for prison for 42 days.

PM. Small arms men firing at a target. Midshipmen firing at a target with a 12 pounder. Rove anchor gear. Up propeller for examination and lowered it again.

19 June 1869

Wind SW force 4 to 6 decreasing to 3/5. Temperature 83 F. Clean ship and watering from tank.

PM Received rum and candles.

1415 Carpenter’s tackle block split. Quarters. Storing of spirit rooms.

20 June 1869

Sunday) Wind SW Force 4/5

0900 Dressed ship and fired a Royal Salute in honour of the anniversary of of Her Majesty. Divisions and Divine Service.

PM. Gave leave to Special leave men of both watches. Quarters. Crossed Top gallant yards. Rove messenger. Watering ship.

2100 Finished.

21 June 1869

Wind SW  later westerly force 3/4 increasing to 4/5.

0400. Shortened cable.

0630 Weighed and proceeded under steam. Passed HMS Bullfinch steering for Trincomalee.

0715 Foul Point Lighthouse E by 8 ½ S. Course North .

0745 Made sail and stopped steaming. Bent on Trysail.

1120 Out reefs. Bending on Studsails.

Noon position latitude 9.05N Longitude 81.14 E. Course N by W. Madras lighthouse bearing N14W 247 miles. Wind W by S force ¾ increasing to 5/6. Temperature 86F.

1315 Crossed Royal yards an…

Wind SW  later westerly force 3/4 increasing to 4/5.

0400. Shortened cable.

0630 Weighed and proceeded under steam. Passed HMS Bullfinch steering for Trincomalee.

0715 Foul Point Lighthouse E by 8 ½ S. Course North .

0745 Made sail and stopped steaming. Bent on Trysail.

1120 Out reefs. Bending on Studsails.

Noon position latitude 9.05N Longitude 81.14 E. Course N by W. Madras lighthouse bearing N14W 247 miles. Wind W by S force ¾ increasing to 5/6. Temperature 86F.

1315 Crossed Royal yards and set Royals and Fore Jib. Training party at rifle drill.

1615 Course NW ½ W. Quarters. In first reef of Topsails.

1940 In Top gallant sails

22 June 1869

Latitude 12.9N Longitude 80.19E. Course northerly. Wind force 4/5 decreasing to 3. Speed 4 to 9 knots through the water. Barometer 29.85 inches and falling. Temperature 84F.

0740 In Topmast staysail.

0857 Set Topmast staysail.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Course NNW. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Rove new Fore Top gallant sheet.

1230. Course NW by N.

1310 Set Top gallant sails. Cutlass men of watch at drill.

1430 Trimmed.

1545 land on Port bow. Up weather clew of mainsail.

1645 Quarters.

1800 Fin…

Latitude 12.9N Longitude 80.19E. Course northerly. Wind force 4/5 decreasing to 3. Speed 4 to 9 knots through the water. Barometer 29.85 inches and falling. Temperature 84F.

0740 In Topmast staysail.

0857 Set Topmast staysail.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Course NNW. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Rove new Fore Top gallant sheet.

1230. Course NW by N.

1310 Set Top gallant sails. Cutlass men of watch at drill.

1430 Trimmed.

1545 land on Port bow. Up weather clew of mainsail.

1645 Quarters.

1800 Finger Peak W ½ S. 1920 observed light ahead.

2000 Light bore NNW.

0820 In Top gallant sails. Up Main sail. Grounded in 30 fathoms. Furled sails and came to with Jib in 10 1/4 fathoms – veered to 4 shackles. Bearing Madras Light House NW ¾ W. St Thomas Mount SW by W ¾ W.

23 June 1869

Anchored in Madras Roads. Wind South-westerly force 4/5.

0735 Rove messenger.

0800 Shortened in cable to two shackles. Made sail to Top sails. Weighed, set Courses, Top gallant sails and jib.

0910 Tacked.

1010 Tacked.

1020 Shortened and furled sails.

1030 anchored in 8 ½ fathoms – sandy bottom. And veered to 56 fathoms.

PM Wind increasing to 5 before dying to force 1. Temperature 90F. Refitting Top gallant and Royal yards. Pointing and grafting of ropes. Carpenters making gratings.

1715 Muste…

Anchored in Madras Roads. Wind South-westerly force 4/5.

0735 Rove messenger.

0800 Shortened in cable to two shackles. Made sail to Top sails. Weighed, set Courses, Top gallant sails and jib.

0910 Tacked.

1010 Tacked.

1020 Shortened and furled sails.

1030 anchored in 8 ½ fathoms – sandy bottom. And veered to 56 fathoms.

PM Wind increasing to 5 before dying to force 1. Temperature 90F. Refitting Top gallant and Royal yards. Pointing and grafting of ropes. Carpenters making gratings.

1715 Mustered at Quarters.

1900 A squall from the West with a sandstorm.

24 June 1869

Wind SW turning NW and then back to SW. Force 1 increasing to 5 before decreasing to 4. Barometer 29.73 inches.

0800 Loosed sails. Read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Furled sails. Sailmakers altering deck awnings.

PM. Crew making and mending clothes. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

25 June 1869

Wind WSW force 1 increasing to ¾ before dropping to force1 at midnight.

0730 A P &O steamer arrived from Calcutta.  Scraping and blacking guns.

PM Boys at seamanship and gun drill. Carpenters about gratings. Sent invalids to mail steamer MONGOLIAN.

2140 Steamer left harbour.

26 June 1869

Wind WSW changing to SSE force 2 to 4 reducing to 1 at Midnight. Temperature 85F. Barometer 29.78 inches. Cleaned ship throughout all day.

1715 Mustered at Quarters.

27 June 1869

Wind S by E. Midday SW changing to NE Force 1 increasing to 2/3. Barometer increasing to 29.89 inches with maximum temperature reaching 91F.

0930 Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine Service.

1715 Mustered at Quarters. Rove Dressing lines. Lightning to NE.

28 June 1869

Wind WSW / SSW /SW Force 1 to 3. Midday 2/4; evening 2/3. Barometer falling to 29.77 inches.

0800 Dress ship. Cleared holds. Received provision and stored holds.

1200 Saluted with 21 guns the Anniversary of coronation of Queen Victoria. Fort also saluted

29 June 1869

Wind SW by W to SSW. Force 0 increasing through the day to 4.Maximum temperature 96F falling to 88F. Barometer steady.

0915 Mustered at Quarters. Training party at drill boys at seamanship. Received £4000 for FORTE. Bent Royals. Down Top gallant yards and bent on Top gallant sails.

30 June 1869

In Madras Roads. Wind SW force 2 to 6. Maximum temperature 89F.

0900 Read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters and Fire Quarters. Boys watch at gunnery. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Scrubbed and washed clothes

01 July 1869

Wind SW later SE. Force 4/5 dropping to ½.

0800 Loaded sails. Quarters and prayers. Watch employed refitting Foresail

1115 Furled sails.

PM Employed making and mending clothes. Gave leave to Starboard Watch

1500 P & O mail steamer MOOLTAN arrived.

1715 Quarters.

02 July 1869

Wind SW force 3 /WNW force 2/4 SE. force 1/3. Blacking guns. Cutlass men at drill. Carpenter making badges for Ports. Forecastle men re-fitting Foresail.

P&O  Steamer MOOLTAN sailed.

PM Watch Cutlass men at drill.

1620 French mail packet sailed. Exercised stations for manning and arming boats.

03 July 1869

Wind SW 3 / SE 1/2  Cleaning ship throughout. Aired bedding.

1525 Mustered by Divisions and inspected bedding. Quarters. Issued clean hammocks.

04 July 1869.

Wind SW / NW force 2/3 88 F. Barometer rising.

0945 mustered by Divisions and performed Divine Service.

1300 Steamer arrived.

1600 |Mustered at Quarters.

05 July 1869

Wind WSW changing to West at Midday and to the East at Midnight. Force 2 rising to 5 at Midday before dropping to 2.

0800 Loosed sails. Watch employed picking oakum.

PM. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Scrubbed hammocks.

06 July 1869

Wind from the West force 3 / 4 dropping to 2/3 in the afternoon and becoming easterly. Temperature 85 rising to 90 with the barometer dropping from 29.88 to 29.78 inches.

0800 Crossed Top gallant yards and loosed sails. Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Re fitted hammock gantlines. Carpenters altering Forecastle awning.

PM. Cutlass men of watch at drill.

1600 Furled sails.

1715 Mustered at Divisions and received provisions. Exercised at Fore Topsail and Top gallant yard – furling, loosin…

Wind from the West force 3 / 4 dropping to 2/3 in the afternoon and becoming easterly. Temperature 85 rising to 90 with the barometer dropping from 29.88 to 29.78 inches.

0800 Crossed Top gallant yards and loosed sails. Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Re fitted hammock gantlines. Carpenters altering Forecastle awning.

PM. Cutlass men of watch at drill.

1600 Furled sails.

1715 Mustered at Divisions and received provisions. Exercised at Fore Topsail and Top gallant yard – furling, loosing and furling sails.

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.

Anchor crest

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