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.

04 January 1870

Latitude 6.58 S. Longitude 47.41  E. Wind Northerly force 2 increasing to 3 before decreasing in the afternoon to force 2. Course ENE. Maximum speed 3 knots.

0550 Set Royals and forward jib.

0750. In Royals and Jib. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers.. Set top gallant sails. Guns crew of watch at drill. Sailmakers repairing wind sails. Boys at seamanship.

1315. Rounded  in. Set Royals, port topmast and top gallant stud sails. In Spanker. Boys at rifle drill.

1530. In Main top gallant. Shifted main …

Latitude 6.58 S. Longitude 47.41  E. Wind Northerly force 2 increasing to 3 before decreasing in the afternoon to force 2. Course ENE. Maximum speed 3 knots.

0550 Set Royals and forward jib.

0750. In Royals and Jib. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers.. Set top gallant sails. Guns crew of watch at drill. Sailmakers repairing wind sails. Boys at seamanship.

1315. Rounded  in. Set Royals, port topmast and top gallant stud sails. In Spanker. Boys at rifle drill.

1530. In Main top gallant. Shifted main topsail. Passed several tide rifts. Sailmakers repairing Main top gallant sail. Quarters. Shifted Main top gallant sail. Starboard Forward top gallant sheet carried away. Braced forward.

1000 In Stud sails. Braced forward.

05 January 1870

Latitude 6.44 S. longitude 49.2 E. wind Northerly force calm to force 2. Course ENE to NE and back to ENE.

AM Passing through strong tide rips.

0550 Shortened sail to topsails, Jib and Top stay sail. Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Carpenters making boom boats. Sailmakers repairing Mainsail and main top gallant sails.

1350. Made all plain sail save Spanker. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Boys at seamanship.

1530 Rounded in. Set port topmast and top gallant stud sails. Mustered at Quarter…

Latitude 6.44 S. longitude 49.2 E. wind Northerly force calm to force 2. Course ENE to NE and back to ENE.

AM Passing through strong tide rips.

0550 Shortened sail to topsails, Jib and Top stay sail. Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Carpenters making boom boats. Sailmakers repairing Mainsail and main top gallant sails.

1350. Made all plain sail save Spanker. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Boys at seamanship.

1530 Rounded in. Set port topmast and top gallant stud sails. Mustered at Quarters. Braced forwards. In Top gallant stud sails. Passing tide rifts

06 January 1870

Latitude 6.27 S. longitude 49.33 E. Wind Calm and light airs becoming force 3 to 4 at midnight. Course ENE becoming NE. Maximum temperature 84 F.

0400 In Topmast stud sails, Royals and forward jib. Up Courses.

0730 Braced round to a breeze from south. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers.. marines at drill. Sailmakers repairing main and main top gallant sails.

1310 Braced round. Set Royals and forward jib.. making and mending clothes. Passed through a tide rip. Washed clothes.

2025 Set Courses.

2215 Br…

Latitude 6.27 S. longitude 49.33 E. Wind Calm and light airs becoming force 3 to 4 at midnight. Course ENE becoming NE. Maximum temperature 84 F.

0400 In Topmast stud sails, Royals and forward jib. Up Courses.

0730 Braced round to a breeze from south. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers.. marines at drill. Sailmakers repairing main and main top gallant sails.

1310 Braced round. Set Royals and forward jib.. making and mending clothes. Passed through a tide rip. Washed clothes.

2025 Set Courses.

2215 Braced forward. Set Spanker.

2300 In royals and Forward Jib.

07 January 1870

Latitude 6.78 S. Longitude 50.24 E.. Wind NNW force  3 to 5 decreasing to 1 from SW at noon. It then became variable before settling from the NNW at force 1 at 2000. Course North easterly Pomony to Maki.

0025 Up Mainsail and in spanker. Braced round.

0230 Up Foresail. In Top gallant sails.

0450 Squared yards.

0550 Braced forward. All plain sail save spanker. Quarters and prayers. Exercised second company at Rifle drill. Watch employed variously.

1030. Up mainsail and squared yards. Set both Top…

Latitude 6.78 S. Longitude 50.24 E.. Wind NNW force  3 to 5 decreasing to 1 from SW at noon. It then became variable before settling from the NNW at force 1 at 2000. Course North easterly Pomony to Maki.

0025 Up Mainsail and in spanker. Braced round.

0230 Up Foresail. In Top gallant sails.

0450 Squared yards.

0550 Braced forward. All plain sail save spanker. Quarters and prayers. Exercised second company at Rifle drill. Watch employed variously.

1030. Up mainsail and squared yards. Set both Top mast and top gallant stud sails.

1300 made all plain sail. Course NEN. Braced forwards. Port tack. Set Royals, Topmast top gallant stud sails and lee clew of Mainsail.  Cutlass men and riggers at rifle drill.in stud sails. Braced round. Up mainsail.

1630 Shortened sail to Topsails. Quarters.. Trimmed as necessary to light airs. Set Foresail and Top gallant sails.

2320 In top gallant sails and up Foresail.

08 January 1870

Latitude 5.25 S. . Longitude 51.7.E. Wind WNW  force 2 to 4 becoming NW force 1 to 3. Overcast becoming broken cloud.

0600 made sail except Spanker..

0730 Shortened sail to Top sails, Jib and staysail..

1015 Set courses.

1030 Up Mainsail. Employed cleaning ship. 100. Braced round to a breeze from NW.

1315 made plain sail. Employed cleaning guns.

1445. Furled Fore top gallant sail and Royals. Clewed up and lowered Forward topsail for repairs.

1425. Made sail.

1650 Mustered at Quarters.

1745 roun…

Latitude 5.25 S. . Longitude 51.7.E. Wind WNW  force 2 to 4 becoming NW force 1 to 3. Overcast becoming broken cloud.

0600 made sail except Spanker..

0730 Shortened sail to Top sails, Jib and staysail..

1015 Set courses.

1030 Up Mainsail. Employed cleaning ship. 100. Braced round to a breeze from NW.

1315 made plain sail. Employed cleaning guns.

1445. Furled Fore top gallant sail and Royals. Clewed up and lowered Forward topsail for repairs.

1425. Made sail.

1650 Mustered at Quarters.

1745 rounded in. In Royals and forward jib.

09 January 1870

Latitude 4.52 S. Longitude 52.26 E. Wind NW force 1 changing to southerly force 3 to 4 after 2000. Course North easterly am changing to E by N. PM.

0345 Set Royals and Forward jib..

0450 In Royals and Forward jib. Up mainsail.

0620 Finished condensing and banked fires.

0730 Set Royals, Top gallants and Mainsail. Mustered by Divisions. Performed Divine Service.

1150 Drew fires. 1225 course E by N.

1240 In Royals, Forward jib. Up Courses.

1320 Set Royals and Foresail.

1645. Mustered at Quarters.

1…

Latitude 4.52 S. Longitude 52.26 E. Wind NW force 1 changing to southerly force 3 to 4 after 2000. Course North easterly am changing to E by N. PM.

0345 Set Royals and Forward jib..

0450 In Royals and Forward jib. Up mainsail.

0620 Finished condensing and banked fires.

0730 Set Royals, Top gallants and Mainsail. Mustered by Divisions. Performed Divine Service.

1150 Drew fires. 1225 course E by N.

1240 In Royals, Forward jib. Up Courses.

1320 Set Royals and Foresail.

1645. Mustered at Quarters.

1720 In Royals, Top gallant sails and courses.

1830. Braced forward. Squared yards.

2100. Braced forward.

10 January 1870

Latitude 4.19 S. Longitude 55.16 E. Wind WNW force 2 to 3 quietening to 0. Course Easterly.

0200 Sounded in 40 fathoms.

0450 Rounded in .

0730 made all plain sail save Forward jib and weather clew of mainsail. Set port topmast and Top gallant stud sails.

0800 Course East. Quarters and prayers.. Backward men and boys at rifle drill. Employed making sennit.. Sailmakers employed repairing mast covers. Carpenters making good small deficits.

1300  Course e By S. In port Stud sails. Braced round, set…

Latitude 4.19 S. Longitude 55.16 E. Wind WNW force 2 to 3 quietening to 0. Course Easterly.

0200 Sounded in 40 fathoms.

0450 Rounded in .

0730 made all plain sail save Forward jib and weather clew of mainsail. Set port topmast and Top gallant stud sails.

0800 Course East. Quarters and prayers.. Backward men and boys at rifle drill. Employed making sennit.. Sailmakers employed repairing mast covers. Carpenters making good small deficits.

1300  Course e By S. In port Stud sails. Braced round, set starboard top and Top gallant stud sails.

1440 Lit fires under starboard boiler. Shortened and furled sails. Proceeded as in Forenoon.

11 January 1870

Latitude 4.28S. Longitude 54.56 E. wind north westerly calm increasing to force 3 at noon before decreasing to calm. Course E by S changing to SE by E ½ E before anchoring.

0150 Stopped. Sounded in 35 fathoms.

0200 Proceeded. Set Trysails, Jib and Topmast  staysail and Spanker.

0350 stopped and sounded in 35 fathoms ( white sand) . Proceeded. Observed the Isle of Silhouette E by ½ S. (Seychelles) Made all plain sail on the Fore.

0900 Mustered at Quarters and prayed. Second company of small ar…

Latitude 4.28S. Longitude 54.56 E. wind north westerly calm increasing to force 3 at noon before decreasing to calm. Course E by S changing to SE by E ½ E before anchoring.

0150 Stopped. Sounded in 35 fathoms.

0200 Proceeded. Set Trysails, Jib and Topmast  staysail and Spanker.

0350 stopped and sounded in 35 fathoms ( white sand) . Proceeded. Observed the Isle of Silhouette E by ½ S. (Seychelles) Made all plain sail on the Fore.

0900 Mustered at Quarters and prayed. Second company of small arms men at drill. Employed fitting Top tyes and Top gallant tyes . Sailmakers making covers for Foremast.

1415. Shortened and furled sails. Squared yards.

1515 Took pilot onboard.

1530 Proceeded. Sailmakers continued to make cover.

1630 Came to with broken bottom in 12 fathoms. Let go on sandy bottom. Moored ship with 2 shackles on port cable and 3 on starboard cable. On swivel. Mustered by Divisions. With clean hammocks. Out boats. Down Top gallant and Royal yards. Discharged E M. Ommany – Assistant Paymaster – to shore as per Admiralty order

12 January 1870

Moored in Barachois, Mahe. (Seychelles) Wind WNW force 1 to 2 changing to NW and increasing to 3. Barometer 29.96 inches. Temperature 82F.

AM Mr Neville, Acting Navigating Lieutenant joined. Down top gallant masts and rigging.

0615 loosed sails. Refitting rigging.

1115 Unbent sails..

PM Refitting, staying topmasts and setting up topmast rigging. Up boats.

13 January 1870

Wind calm – later west force becoming NW force  2. Maximum temperature 83F.

AM Employed refitting ship.

PM Ratting down rigging.

14 January 1870

Wind NW force 1 to 2 rising to 3 before decreasing to 2.

AM Refitting ship.

PM Up Top gallant mast. Blacking down rigging.

1715 French mail steamer MOZAMBIQUE arrived.

15 January 1870

Wind calm becoming west force 2 to 3 and then NNW 2 to 4.

AM French mail steamer left.

0815 French man of war schooner LEVERETT arrived and anchored. Cleaned ship throughout.

PM American consul visited ship – saluted with 7 guns and again when he left. Mustered at Quarters.

16 January 1870

Wind NW changing to WNW then West force 2 to 3.

1000 Mustered by the Open List. Performed divine Service.

PM Gave leave to special leave men of both watches. Washed clothes.

17 January 1870

Wind NNW Changing west and then NW force 3 to 5 decreasing to 1 at midnight. Barometer 29.97 inches. Temperature 78F at noon increasing to 83F at midnight..

AM. Employed cleaning starboard holds and provision rooms. Hoisting up ballast. Gave leave to Port Watch.

PM Whitewashed holds and stored ballast.

18 January 1870

Wind WNW then NW force 0 increasing to 2. Barometer rising to 30.02 inches. Temperature at noon 84F.

AM Employed striking down ballast and re storing holds.

Noon – cleared port holds and getting up ballast.

1530 French schooner shifted berth. Clearing and cleaning holds and ballast.

19 January 1870

Wind NW force 0 to 2.  Maximum temperature 80F.

AM Employed striking down ballast and provisions. Port watch returned from leave.

PM. Gave general leave to starboard watch. Cleaning shell locker and storing forward hold. Sent launch for water.

1630. French mail ship arrived. Discharged Lt Skibsted for Mediter and Mr Shill and three invalids for England.

20 January 1870

Wind N by W force 3 to 4 decreasing to 1 from NW. Temperature 78F.

AM Storing shot locker. Mail steamer sailed.. Carpenters making backboard for 1st gig. Blacksmiths making stay for pinnace’s rain awning stanchion. Cleared shell room.

PM Storing shell room and cleared fore hold. Watered ship by launch receiving 7 tons.

21 January 1870

Wind NW becoming SW later. Starting at force 1, increasing to 3 and later 4 before becoming calm at midnight.  Barometer at dawn 29.97 inches rising to 30.06 inches at midnight. Maximum temperature 81F.

AM Watering by launch. Employed overhauling Topsails. Sailmakers roaching Main topsail.

PM Topsail continued to be overhauled. Received 20 casks of flour from shore. Completed watering.

22 January 1870

Wind NW to NNW force 1. Barometer steady at 30.02. Temperature 78 F.

AM Employed cleaning ship throughout.

1315 French schooner LEVERETTE sailed. Employed bending upper sails. Bent sails, crossed Top gallant yards.

1829 Sent in flying booms.

23 January 1870

Wind NW to NNW becoming West. Force 2 to 3.

1000 Mustered by Divisions and performed Divine Service.

PM Gave special leave to both watches. Preparing for coaling.

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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

Receive our newsletters?