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.

07 July 1869

At anchor in Madras Roads. Wind at 0400 SSE force 2.

0800 Wind West force 3.

0800 received provisions and stored in after hold.

1500. Wind East force2. Shortened cable to three shackles.

1640. Wind S by E force 2. Weighed and proceeded under steam.

1755. Shaped course and set fore and aft sails.

1940. Pointed yards to wind.

1940. Wind southerly force 2 to 3. In forward sails. Madras lighthouse bearing NW.

08 July 1869

Latitude 11.53N Longitude 80.34E. Course south-easterly at 2 knots increasing to 5. Wind south-westerly force 3 to 4 decreasing to 2. Pigeon Island bearing S12E 195 miles.

0215 Set fore and aft sails. Lightening to the NE.

0630 Lit fires in second boiler.

0900 Mustered at Divisions and said prayers. Marines at rifle drill.

PM Making and mending clothes.

1545. Tacked.

1645 mustered at Quarters. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

2200. Tacked.

09 July 1869

Latitude 9.53N Longitude 80.49E course SSE Max. 6 knots.  Wind SSW at 0300; SE by E at 1600 and SSW at 2300. Force varying 1 to 3. Altered course to S by E ½ E.

0100 Passed large steamer standing to the north. Midshipmen at cutlass drill.

0900 Quarters and prayers. Small arms men of watch at drill. Carpenters altering compressor.

1220 course SSE. Training party of watch at rifle drill.

1600 Braced round yards.

1615 In fore and aft sails.

1645 Mustered at quarters.

1730 Observed land on starboa…

Latitude 9.53N Longitude 80.49E course SSE Max. 6 knots.  Wind SSW at 0300; SE by E at 1600 and SSW at 2300. Force varying 1 to 3. Altered course to S by E ½ E.

0100 Passed large steamer standing to the north. Midshipmen at cutlass drill.

0900 Quarters and prayers. Small arms men of watch at drill. Carpenters altering compressor.

1220 course SSE. Training party of watch at rifle drill.

1600 Braced round yards.

1615 In fore and aft sails.

1645 Mustered at quarters.

1730 Observed land on starboard bow. Sounded in 80 fathoms. Stopped and sounded66 fathoms.

2340. Braced round.

10 July 1869

ourse South easterly at 1 to 4 knots. Wind SSW Barometer rising to 29.90 before falling to 29.90 inches. Temperature 80F rising to 90F.  Just after midnight observed Foul Point lighthouse S by a ¼ E.

1240 set fore and aft sails. Stopped.

0200 Sounded in 50 fathoms.

0315 In Fore trysail and spanker. Squared yards.

0400 Foul Point S by W ½ W. In fore and aft sails. Proceeded.

0745 Saluted the flag of Commodore Heath CB with 9 guns.

0800. Came to in 11 fathoms with sand berth and veered to 50 fa…

ourse South easterly at 1 to 4 knots. Wind SSW Barometer rising to 29.90 before falling to 29.90 inches. Temperature 80F rising to 90F.  Just after midnight observed Foul Point lighthouse S by a ¼ E.

1240 set fore and aft sails. Stopped.

0200 Sounded in 50 fathoms.

0315 In Fore trysail and spanker. Squared yards.

0400 Foul Point S by W ½ W. In fore and aft sails. Proceeded.

0745 Saluted the flag of Commodore Heath CB with 9 guns.

0800. Came to in 11 fathoms with sand berth and veered to 50 fathoms. Cleaned ship throughout.

PM Employed hoisting provision out for FORTE and DRYAD.

1600. Sent provisions to FORTE.

11 July 1869

Wind SW force 2 to 3. Temperature 82F. Just after Midnight Paymaster Mitford attempted to swim ashore and the gig was sent away.

0200 The gig returned with his clothes not having seen anything of him.

0800. The body was found.  Sent 8000 lbs of bread to FORTE. Mustered by Divisions.

1630 Funeral party went ashore to inter the remains of the Paymaster.

1915 Funeral party returned.

12 July 1869

Wind SW force 4 to 5 decreasing to 3.

0045 Crossed upper yards.

0900 Commodore heath came onboard to inspect the ship. Mustered by the Open List. Divisions. Exercised at General and Fir Quarters.

1300 The Commodore left the ship.

1500 Raised screw.

1530 Made up and stored away studsails.

1720. Out boats. Down Top gallant yards.

13 July 1869

Wind SW force 3to 4 increasing to 6 at midday. Temperature 84F.

0800 Fired a gun and hoisted a Court Martial flag.

0900. Court Martial assembled onboard.

1330 Sent launch pinnace, 1st and 2nd cutters out sailing for exercise.

1915 Officers of Court Martial left the ship.

14 July 1869

Wind SW by W force 3 to 5.

0800. Fired a gun and hoisted Court Martial Jack.

0900 Court assembled onboard.

1105 court closed. Hauled down Jack. Crew fitting the rigging.

PM Sent boats away sailing. Received water from Tank. Unbent small sails and Trysail. Sunset. Up and moored boats.

15 July 1869

Wind SW force 4 to 6 decreasing to 4.

0545. Loosed sails.

0800 Unbent sails and sent sails on shore to dockyard. Held a court of Inquiry on Mr Ommany Assistant Paymaster.

PM Making and mending clothes. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

16 July 1869

Wind SW switching to W SW at Midday. Maximum temperature 88F.

0800 fired a gun and hoisted the Court Marital Jack. Crew employed refitting upper yards and sent condemned rope to the dockyard.

PM continues fitting Upper yards.

1730 Court adjourned.

17 July 1869

Wind SW force 2 increasing to 5. Barometer steady at 29.90 inches. Fired a gun and hoisted the Court Martial Jack.

0900 Court Martial assembled. Discharged supernumeraries to FORTE. PM Issued soap and tobacco to Ship’s Company.

1600 HMS Forte and BULLFINCH sailed.

18 July 1869

Wind South –westerly force 1 increasing to 5 at midnight. Performed Divine Service.

PM. Gave special and privilege leave to Starboard Watch.

1715 Mustered at Quarters.

19 July 1869

Wind SW force 3 to 6 decreasing to 2/3. Down top gallant masts. Lowered masts and Top sail yards. Commenced re-fitting ship. Stayed Foremast and setting up lower rigging.

PM. Setting up lower rigging. Sent cutter to dockyard. Set up Topmast rigging.

20 July 1869

Wind SW force 2 to 4.Setting up Topmast stays and rigging. Hauled up launch in the dockyard.

PM as for the Forenoon. Re – stayed Fore topmast.

21 July 1869

Wind SW force2 increasing to 4. Temperature 87 degrees. Refitting and cleaning spars. Shifted Quarterdeck davits.

1600. Up lower and topsail yards.

22 July 1869

Wind SW force 4 to 5 decreasing to 3 / 4. Rattling down. (Fixing the Ratlines in place). Rigging Top gallant and Royal funnel.

PM Rattling down and staying Fore topmast.

1500 wind shifted suddenly to the North.

1730 Up Top gallant masts.

23 July 1869

Wind SW force 2 to 4.  Temperature 85F. Rattling down rigging. Carpenters shifting davits.

PM Blacking down rigging.

24 July 1869

Employed cleaning ship.

PM Scrubbed masts and yards.

25 July 1869

Wind WSW to SW force 0/1.

0940 Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine Service.

1130 Divisions. Issued clean hammocks.

1715 Quarters. Lowered and scrubbed gaffs. Sent gaffs up.

26 July 1869

Wind SW force 1. Temperature 86F. Scraping gun carriages.

1125 Sent field pieces to dockyard.

PM. Wind shifted to NE. Carpenters  shifting davits.

1520 Shortened in cable to 31/2 fathoms. Cleaned hammocks.

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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