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.

05 March 1870

Latitude 7.32 S. longitude 46.42 E. Wind light airs from east or SE. course generally northerly at a maximum of 1 knot.. Maximum temperature 84F.

0630 set Course. Cleaned ship throughout until
1410 when Up Courses
1520 Set courses.
1645 Mustered at quarters.
1845. Up Courses.
2100 In Top gallant sails. Trimmed sails

06 March 1870

Latitude 7.11S. Longitude 47.2E. Wind from SE / ENE / NE  force 1 to 2 later increasing to 4 at noon before dying to 1 at midnight.. Course NE /SSE / NW / NNE at I knot increasing to 3 knots at noon before decreasing to 1 knot.

0130 Taken aback. Braced round.

0600 Wore. Set Top gallant sails and Courses. Passed several small tide rips.

0930. Mustered by the Open List.

1000. Performed Divine Service.

1600. Mustered at Quarters.

1945. Up mainsail. Wore ship. Set mainsail.

07 March 1870

Latitude 7.8S. Longitude 47.7E. Wind NNE becoming SE and then ENE force 2 to 3 dying to 1. Course ESE / SE / NNW / N by E.

0115 In Top gallant sails.

0600. Wore. Set op gallant sails. Read prayers and mustered at Quarters. Carpenters altering netting. Artificers making good small defects. Watch employed pointing breechings.

1125 Wore. Set Royals, Flying jib, Topsails, Top gallant stud sails.

PM as per AM plus refitting gun tackle.

1400. In Top sails and Top gallant stud sails. Up Mainsail, squar…

Latitude 7.8S. Longitude 47.7E. Wind NNE becoming SE and then ENE force 2 to 3 dying to 1. Course ESE / SE / NNW / N by E.

0115 In Top gallant sails.

0600. Wore. Set op gallant sails. Read prayers and mustered at Quarters. Carpenters altering netting. Artificers making good small defects. Watch employed pointing breechings.

1125 Wore. Set Royals, Flying jib, Topsails, Top gallant stud sails.

PM as per AM plus refitting gun tackle.

1400. In Top sails and Top gallant stud sails. Up Mainsail, squared yards.

1545 Braced forward on Starboard tack. Set mainsail. Washed clothes

2045. Longitude by Regulus 46.56S

( also known as Alpha Leonis is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo)

08 March 1870

Latitude 5.28S. Longitude 47.13E. Wind Easterly becoming South-easterly force 1 to 2. Course North – easterly.

0500 Lit fires under port boiler for condensing.

0545. Trimmed.

0810 Shifted Mainsail. Mustered Quarters and prayed.. 3rd class of drills at cutlass drill. Pointing breechings and making mats.

PM. First company of small arms men at rifle drill. Midshipmen and boys at gun drill. Employed refitting gun gear. Sailmakers repairing mainsail.

1645. Mustered at Quarters. Shifted top gallant …

Latitude 5.28S. Longitude 47.13E. Wind Easterly becoming South-easterly force 1 to 2. Course North – easterly.

0500 Lit fires under port boiler for condensing.

0545. Trimmed.

0810 Shifted Mainsail. Mustered Quarters and prayed.. 3rd class of drills at cutlass drill. Pointing breechings and making mats.

PM. First company of small arms men at rifle drill. Midshipmen and boys at gun drill. Employed refitting gun gear. Sailmakers repairing mainsail.

1645. Mustered at Quarters. Shifted top gallant masts. Latitude of Regulus 6.15S.

09 March 1870

Latitude 5.50S.Longitude 47.42E. Wind Easterly with light winds. Course North easterly becoming easterly at 2000.

0400 reset sails. Prayers. Exercised at General quarters. Boys under instruction. Employed refitting gun gear. Sailmakers repairing mainsail.

PM. Training party at gun drills.

1645. Mustered at Quarters and exercised at Fire Stations. Shortened sails to topsails.

2220 Set Courses and top gallant sails.

10 March 1870

Latitude 5.18S. Longitude 48.8E. Wind calm and variable, course variable.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Read prayers.

0930 Up Courses. Watch employed fitting new Forward top gallant yard rope and Main top gallant mast rope. Pointing breechings. Fitting gun tackles Marines at drill firing.

PM Employed making and mending clothes.

1515. Wore. Scrubbed and washed clothes. Braced forward. Set Courses.

2105 Altered course to E by N.

11 March 1870

Latitude 4.50S. Longitude 48.55E. Wind northerly force 2 increasing to 3. Course E by N.

0605.  Rounded in.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayed. 3rd class at cutlass drill. Marines at gun drill. Sailmakers making good small defects.

0930 Set Royals, Port topmast and Top gallant stud sails..

1330 altered course to East. Midshipmen and boys at gun drill. Second company of small arms men at rifle drill. Training party at gun drill. Pointing breechings. Mustered at Quarters. Shifted Mainsail.

2351 In…

Latitude 4.50S. Longitude 48.55E. Wind northerly force 2 increasing to 3. Course E by N.

0605.  Rounded in.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayed. 3rd class at cutlass drill. Marines at gun drill. Sailmakers making good small defects.

0930 Set Royals, Port topmast and Top gallant stud sails..

1330 altered course to East. Midshipmen and boys at gun drill. Second company of small arms men at rifle drill. Training party at gun drill. Pointing breechings. Mustered at Quarters. Shifted Mainsail.

2351 In Stud sails. Braced forward.

12 March 1870

Latitude 4.57S. Longitude 51.6E. wind NNE force 2 to 3 decreasing later to 1.  Course Easterly.

0400 Passing through tide rips.

0800 employed cleaning ship throughout. Passed through tides rips. 29lbs  of salt pork thrown overboard as unfit for use..

1500 Up steam in one boiler. Shortened and furled sails. Passed through several tide rips.

1611. Commenced steaming.

1650. Mustered at Quarters. Set fore and aft sails except Forward jib.

1945. Latitude by the moon 4.53S

13 March 1870

Latitude 4.48S. Longitude 53.6E. Silhouette Island N.81E 133 miles. Wind north easterly force 1. Course Easterly becoming northerly..

0715 In fore and aft sails and Foresail.

0800. Course East.

0930. Observed land SE to NE.( African Isle).

1000 Course North. Mustered by Divisions. Divine Service.

1110. sounded in 80 fathoms.

1250 Course NE by E.1320 Set Head sails and Trysail. 1430. Course E by E.

1650 Muster by Divisions.2015. Done Head sails and in Trysail.

2145. Sounded in 12 fathoms on edge …

Latitude 4.48S. Longitude 53.6E. Silhouette Island N.81E 133 miles. Wind north easterly force 1. Course Easterly becoming northerly..

0715 In fore and aft sails and Foresail.

0800. Course East.

0930. Observed land SE to NE.( African Isle).

1000 Course North. Mustered by Divisions. Divine Service.

1110. sounded in 80 fathoms.

1250 Course NE by E.1320 Set Head sails and Trysail. 1430. Course E by E.

1650 Muster by Divisions.2015. Done Head sails and in Trysail.

2145. Sounded in 12 fathoms on edge of bank.

2230. Sounded in 25 fathoms(sand and coral) and 21 fathoms

14 March 1870

Latitude 4.32S. Longitude 55.27E. Wind at 0100 NE force 1 becoming calm until 1600 when it came from the west at force 1 until 2000 when it became calm again. Course Easterly.

0200 Altered course to east.

0345 Sounded in 35 fathoms (sand).

0415. Observed land bearing east to ESE.

0435. Altered course to E by S.

0800. Squared yards. Mustered at Quarters.

0930 North Isle and Silhouette Island in one bearing N by E1/4 E. Praslin Island  ENE. Training party at gun drill. Watch fitting gun gear.

131…

Latitude 4.32S. Longitude 55.27E. Wind at 0100 NE force 1 becoming calm until 1600 when it came from the west at force 1 until 2000 when it became calm again. Course Easterly.

0200 Altered course to east.

0345 Sounded in 35 fathoms (sand).

0415. Observed land bearing east to ESE.

0435. Altered course to E by S.

0800. Squared yards. Mustered at Quarters.

0930 North Isle and Silhouette Island in one bearing N by E1/4 E. Praslin Island  ENE. Training party at gun drill. Watch fitting gun gear.

1310. Received pilot on board..

1400 Came to with broken bottom in 11 fathoms.. Moored ship with 4 shackles on broken bottom and three on sandy bottom. Out small boats. Unrove messenger. Employed scrubbing hammocks and washing clothes. Anchorage bearings – English church W1/2 N;  North Maki N ½ E

(Praslin Island –  the second largest island of the Seychelles, lying 44 km northeast of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 7,533 people and comprises two administrative districts: Baie Sainte Anne and Grand’ Anse.

15 March 1870

At anchor. Wind calm. Barometer 29.98 inches. Temperature at noon 85F.

0600 Out boom boats.

0900 Crossed Top gallant and Royal yards. Loosed sails. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Pointing breechings and refitting gear. Sailmakers repairing main Deck awnings..

1340. Furled sails. Employed restoring booms and storing away sails.

1715 Mustered by Divisions. Inspected clean hammocks. Down Top gallant yards.

16 March 1870

Wind mainly calm with barometer rising to 30.00 inches and temperature at noon 86F.

0100. Launch returned from watering.

0800 Crossed Top gallant and Royal yards and loosed sails. Mustered at General Quarters. Watch employed on making mats. 1110. Unbent sails. Down Top gallant yards.

PM. Watch employed pointing breechings, making mats and sennets. Training party at gun drill. Watering by launch.

1650 Manned and armed boats. Boats away – shot shell and rockets at a target.

1730. Boats returned.

17 March 1870

Wind calm.

0030. French mail ship arrived.

0800. Crossed top gallant and Royal yards.

0915 Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Marines and pistolmen firing at a target. 1100. French mail ship sailed..

PM Employed making and mending clothes. Gave leave to special leave men. Launch returned with water.

1630 Down Upper yards.

18 March 1870

Wind calm. Temperature at noon 90F.

0915 Quarters and prayers. Second company of small arms men at a target firing. Sailmakers repairing Forward Top gallant sail. Artificers making good small defects.

1130. Up screw and lowered again.

PM First company of small arms men firing at a target. Employed scrubbing masts and booms

19 March 1870

Wind calm. Temperature at noon 85F. Barometer 30.00 inches.

AM Employed cleaning ship. Scraping masts and booms. Hove overboard 12lbs of preserved beef unfit for issue.

PM. Carpenters altering hammock nettings.

1630 Scraping masts and booms.

20 March 1870

Wind calm. Temperature at noon 88F.Barometer 30.01 inches.

AM. Launch away watering..

0945 Mustered by the Open List.. Performed Divine Service.

1000. HMI Schooner LEVERETTE sailed.

PM Gave special leave to to both watches.

1520 Mustered at Quarters. Hoisted launch.

21 March 1870

Wind calm. Temperature at noon 89F. Barometer 30.08 inches.

AM Gave 36 hours leave to starboard watch. Employed scrubbing paintwork.

PM Employed in preparing for painting of ship.

22 March 1870

Wind calm occasional force . Temperature at noon 89F. Barometer rising to 30.06 inches. Employed painting ship. Sailmakers repairing forward Top gallant sail and Royal.

PM. Employed as in the forenoon.

1320 French frigate AMOURIQUE arrived

23 March 1870

Wind calm rising to force 1. Temperature at noon 89F. Barometer continues to rise to 30.08 inches.

AM Employed painting ship etc. Gunners refitting gun gear. Sailmakers repairing Forward Top gallant sail and wind sails.

PM. painting ship and gun carriages. Refitting gun gear.

24 March 1870

Wind calm rising to force 3 from the SE.  Temperature at noon 87F. Barometer 30.06 inches..

AM Employed painting ship and refitting side tackles.

PM Employed making and mending clothes. Painting the inside of the ship.

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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