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 May 1870

At anchor. Wind southerly force 2 to 3. Barometer rising to 30.12 inches.

0510. Draw fires forward.

0530 Weighed and proceeded under steam.. Pointed yards to wind. Down Top gallant and Royal yards..

0600. Course south.

0630 Braced round.

0700 Course SE. Set fore and aft sails.

0750. Set forward sails and Top sails. Furled square sails . Prayers. Exercised at General and Fire Quarters.

1030 Made sail to top sails and Courses. Crossed main and Top gallant yards and set sails.

1320. Set top gallant…

At anchor. Wind southerly force 2 to 3. Barometer rising to 30.12 inches.

0510. Draw fires forward.

0530 Weighed and proceeded under steam.. Pointed yards to wind. Down Top gallant and Royal yards..

0600. Course south.

0630 Braced round.

0700 Course SE. Set fore and aft sails.

0750. Set forward sails and Top sails. Furled square sails . Prayers. Exercised at General and Fire Quarters.

1030 Made sail to top sails and Courses. Crossed main and Top gallant yards and set sails.

1320. Set top gallant sail. Exercised third class of small arms men at small arm drill. A heavy swell from SE.  Sailmakers repairing forward Top gallant sail.

1645. Quarters.

1815. Shortened and furled square sails and tacked.

1920. In fore and aft sails – commenced steaming.

05 May 1870

Latitude 6.40 S. Longitude. 40.49E. Course SE by E –  Zanzibar to Make. African island N 81 E Wind Southerly force 1 to 3. Barometer 30.10 inches. Maximum temperature 80F.

0640 Crossed Mizzen op gallant yard.

0915. In Trysails and spanker. Made sail to Topsails,  Fore and Main top gallant sails and Courses.  Braced forward on starboard tack. 0955 stopped steaming.

1150. In Top gallant sails. Up courses.

1320. Braced round. Employed making and mending clothes.

1620 finished condensing.

1…

Latitude 6.40 S. Longitude. 40.49E. Course SE by E –  Zanzibar to Make. African island N 81 E Wind Southerly force 1 to 3. Barometer 30.10 inches. Maximum temperature 80F.

0640 Crossed Mizzen op gallant yard.

0915. In Trysails and spanker. Made sail to Topsails,  Fore and Main top gallant sails and Courses.  Braced forward on starboard tack. 0955 stopped steaming.

1150. In Top gallant sails. Up courses.

1320. Braced round. Employed making and mending clothes.

1620 finished condensing.

1640. Commenced steaming.

1710 Altered course to SE. Shortened and furled sails.

1820 split jib. Down Jib and Topmast Staysail.

2020 Course SE by E.

2100. Set Fore and aft Trysails and forward top Stay sail.

2200. In Fore and aft Trysails and forward top Stay sail. Swell from SE.

06 May 1870

Latitude 6.20S. Longitude 41.43E. Course SE by E changing to N by E the ENE. Wind SE by E force 2 increasing to 4.opping to 30.03 inches.

0600 Shifted jib.

0625 Made sail to Topsail, Courses and Head sails.

0650. Stopped steaming.

0735. Set Top gallant sails and Spanker.

0900. musters art Quarters. Read prayers and Return of Courts Marshal. Watch employed fitting gun tackles. Sailmakers fitting main Deck awning.

PM. Boys of watch at cutlass drill. Employed in making sennit. Sailmakers about Main…

Latitude 6.20S. Longitude 41.43E. Course SE by E changing to N by E the ENE. Wind SE by E force 2 increasing to 4.opping to 30.03 inches.

0600 Shifted jib.

0625 Made sail to Topsail, Courses and Head sails.

0650. Stopped steaming.

0735. Set Top gallant sails and Spanker.

0900. musters art Quarters. Read prayers and Return of Courts Marshal. Watch employed fitting gun tackles. Sailmakers fitting main Deck awning.

PM. Boys of watch at cutlass drill. Employed in making sennit. Sailmakers about Main Deck awning.

1645. Quarters. Exercised reefing Topsails.

07 May 1870

Latitude 5.39S. longitude 42.32E.  Course NE by E becoming easterly. Wind south easterly force 2 increasing to 5. Employed cleaning ship throughout.

100. Down Jib. Up Mainsail. In Spanker. Lowered Topsails. In first reef to a heavy squall from the SE..

1315. Set mainsail. Out reefs. Set Spanker and Top gallant sails. Watch employed fitting gun tackles.

1645 Quarters. In first reef of Topsails.

1730 Latitude by moon mer. alt. 4.51S.

2115. In Spanker.

2330. Up mainsail and in Top gallant sails to…

Latitude 5.39S. longitude 42.32E.  Course NE by E becoming easterly. Wind south easterly force 2 increasing to 5. Employed cleaning ship throughout.

100. Down Jib. Up Mainsail. In Spanker. Lowered Topsails. In first reef to a heavy squall from the SE..

1315. Set mainsail. Out reefs. Set Spanker and Top gallant sails. Watch employed fitting gun tackles.

1645 Quarters. In first reef of Topsails.

1730 Latitude by moon mer. alt. 4.51S.

2115. In Spanker.

2330. Up mainsail and in Top gallant sails to a squall from the south.

08 May 1870

Latitude 5.0S. Longitude 45.39E. Course Northerly. Wind variable but mainly southerly force 2 to 6. Barometer dropping to 29.98 inches before climbing to 30.06 inches. Maximum temperature 80F.

0020 Down Jib.

0630 Wore ship.

0730 Set mainsail. 0915 Up Courses.

0945 Wore ship. Heavy squall from SE.

1645. Lowered and clewed up Topsail.

1730 Set Fore topsail.

1800 Threw overboard 6lbs of preserved beef that had gone bad.

09 May 1870

Latitude 4.8S. Longitude 44.11E. Course Easterly. Wind  direction variable  force 2 to 6 before decreasing to 4.

0350. Rounded in. a swell from the SE.

0430 Up Mainsail. Trimmed.

0740 Trimmed.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Watch employed repairing Fore topsail and making new gun tackles. Artificers making good small defects.

1140. Up Foresail.

1315. Out reefs. Set Top gallant sails Courses and Jib..

1430. Braced forward. Set mainsail.

1520 in Top gallant sails. Sailmakers repairing Fore …

Latitude 4.8S. Longitude 44.11E. Course Easterly. Wind  direction variable  force 2 to 6 before decreasing to 4.

0350. Rounded in. a swell from the SE.

0430 Up Mainsail. Trimmed.

0740 Trimmed.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Watch employed repairing Fore topsail and making new gun tackles. Artificers making good small defects.

1140. Up Foresail.

1315. Out reefs. Set Top gallant sails Courses and Jib..

1430. Braced forward. Set mainsail.

1520 in Top gallant sails. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail and Jib.

1550 Reefed Topsail

10 May 1870

Wind SSE force 3 to 4 decreasing to 2 to 3..

0800 Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Employed pointing ropes and strapping blocks.. Third class at rifle drill. Artificers making good defects.

PM Watch employed fitting gun tackles. 3rd class at rifle drill. Artificers as in the forenoon.. Sailmakers repairing Jib and roaching Foretop sail. Mustered at Quarters. Exercised at stations manning and arming boats. Passed through small tide rips.

11 May 1870

Latitude 3.26S. Longitude 47.3E. Wind SSE. Force 3 to 4 decreasing to 2 to 3. African island S79E. 363 miles.

0320. Latitude by Vega 3.44S.

0900 Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Employed pointing ropes. Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail.

PM Watch employed fitting gun tackles. Third class at rifle drill. Artificers making good defects.

1645 Mustered at Quarters.

2058. Latitude by Mer Alt. of moon  3.42S

12 May 1870

Latitude 3.18S. Longitude 48.47E. course easterly becoming northerly at noon before returning to easterly at 1500. Wind south easterly force2 to 3 increasing to 4 at 2100.

AM aired bedding.

0900 Mustered at Quarters. Prayed Watch employed pointing ropes. Sailmakers roaching fore topsail and repairing Jib. Marines at drill.

PM served out slops to Ship’s Company. Employed making and mending clothes. Washed clothes.

2135. Main top gallant sheet carried away. In Fore and Main Top gallant sails.

13 May 1870

Latitude 2.37S. Longitude 50.9E. Course  E ¾ N. Wind SSE force 3 to 4. Bird island S78E 297 miles.

0100. Latitude by Antares 2.51S.

0730. Set Fore and main top gallant sails. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Second gun’s crews at drill. Boys and second class ordinary at seamanship instruction. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail and Jib.

PM. Midshipmen at seamanship. Boys under instruction. Sailmakers repairing Fore top sail. Artificers making good small defects.

15.30 Shifted Fore topsail.

1600…

Latitude 2.37S. Longitude 50.9E. Course  E ¾ N. Wind SSE force 3 to 4. Bird island S78E 297 miles.

0100. Latitude by Antares 2.51S.

0730. Set Fore and main top gallant sails. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Second gun’s crews at drill. Boys and second class ordinary at seamanship instruction. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail and Jib.

PM. Midshipmen at seamanship. Boys under instruction. Sailmakers repairing Fore top sail. Artificers making good small defects.

15.30 Shifted Fore topsail.

1600 Mustered at Quarters. Exercised reefing Top sails.

2300 latitude by Mer Alt. Moon 2.19S.

14 May 1870

Latitude 1.56S. Longitude 51.27E. Course E ¼ North. Wind SSE force 1 to 3.

0030. Latitude by Antares 2.10S.

0800 clean ship. 1010 Light fires in starboard boiler for condensing.

PM. Watch employed strapping blocks.

1645 Mustered by Divisions. Issued clean hammocks..

1045 latitude by Antares 1.37S

15 May 1870

Latitude 1.8S. Longitude 5241E. Course Easterly until 1300 then south westerly. Wind south easterly force2 to 3. Barometer 29.98. maximum temperature 83F.

0050 latitude by Antares 1.40S.

1000 Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine service.

1340 Tacked.

1645. Mustered at Quarters.

1700 Furled square sails and pointed yards to the wind.

1720. Commenced steaming.

1730. Set Fore and main Trysails.

2050 Latitude by Crucis  1.26S [Alpha Crucis is the brightest star in constellation Crux.]

16 May 1870

Latitude 2.18S. Longitude  52.16E. Course  south easterly. Wind south easterly force 3 to 4.

0305 latitude by Vega 1.47S.

0910 Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Two guns crews at gun drill. Boys and second class ordinary at seamanship. Sailmakers repairing Jib and converting main deck awning. PM Heavy swell from SE.

1315 Tacked. Boys, ordinary, 4th guns and midshipmen at gun drill. Employed fitting gun gear and Main deck awning.  Scrubbed hammocks.

2100 tacked.

17 May 1870

Latitude 3.6S. Longitude 53.30E. Course  south easterly. Wind SE force 2 to 3. 0224. Latitude by Mer. Alt of moon  2.44S. a small swell from the SE.

0800. Heavy swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Bow, odd, 4th and 6th gun crews of watch at gun drill. Employed pointing ropes and strapping blocks. Refitting gun gear.

1315. Tacked. First company at drill firing blank cartridge. Sailmakers converting main Deck awning and repairing Jib. Watch employed as in the Forenoon.. Artificer’s m…

Latitude 3.6S. Longitude 53.30E. Course  south easterly. Wind SE force 2 to 3. 0224. Latitude by Mer. Alt of moon  2.44S. a small swell from the SE.

0800. Heavy swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Bow, odd, 4th and 6th gun crews of watch at gun drill. Employed pointing ropes and strapping blocks. Refitting gun gear.

1315. Tacked. First company at drill firing blank cartridge. Sailmakers converting main Deck awning and repairing Jib. Watch employed as in the Forenoon.. Artificer’s making good small defects.

1645 mustered at Quarters. Inspected cleaned hammocks. Scraped masts and booms. Swell from the SE.

2100 Exercised at General Night Steaming Quarters.

18 May 1870

Latitude 3.40S. Longitude 53.46E. Silhouette Island bearing S 62 E 101 miles. Course Easterly. Wind south easterly force 2 to 4.

0500. Latitude by Cygni  3.42S [Cygni is a red hypergiant and one of the largest stars currently known with a radius about 1,183 times the Sun’s, equal to 5.5 astronomical ] Swell from the SE.

0900 Read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Watch employed pointing ropes, fitting gun tackle and fitting Fore topsail.

PM Second class and boys at rifle drill. Art…

Latitude 3.40S. Longitude 53.46E. Silhouette Island bearing S 62 E 101 miles. Course Easterly. Wind south easterly force 2 to 4.

0500. Latitude by Cygni  3.42S [Cygni is a red hypergiant and one of the largest stars currently known with a radius about 1,183 times the Sun’s, equal to 5.5 astronomical ] Swell from the SE.

0900 Read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Watch employed pointing ropes, fitting gun tackle and fitting Fore topsail.

PM Second class and boys at rifle drill. Artificers making good small defects. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail and Jib. Watch employed refitting gun gear, making sennit and pointing ropes.

1650 Mustered at Quarters. Down top gallant masts and yards. Swell from SSE.

2010.  Latitude Centauri 3.47S. [Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System at a distance of 4.37 light-years]

19 May 1870

Latitude 3.44S. Longitude 55.9 E. St Anne’s Peak S25E 58 miles. Course SE. wind South easterly force 1 to 4.

0430 Eased engines and sounded in 20 fathoms.

0630 In fore and aft sails and altered course to SE.

0900 Quarters. Read prayers.  Sounded in  7f fathoms.

1015. Observed Bird Island. Altered course to SE by ½ S. Marines firing blank cartridges. Watch employed fitting gun gear.

1130 observed land to the south. 1200 Course SSE.

1230. Altered course S by E ½ E. employed making mending cl…

Latitude 3.44S. Longitude 55.9 E. St Anne’s Peak S25E 58 miles. Course SE. wind South easterly force 1 to 4.

0430 Eased engines and sounded in 20 fathoms.

0630 In fore and aft sails and altered course to SE.

0900 Quarters. Read prayers.  Sounded in  7f fathoms.

1015. Observed Bird Island. Altered course to SE by ½ S. Marines firing blank cartridges. Watch employed fitting gun gear.

1130 observed land to the south. 1200 Course SSE.

1230. Altered course S by E ½ E. employed making mending clothes. Carpenters altering Top gallant masts. Sailmakers repairing forecastle awning, Fore topsail and Jib.

1600. Silhouette Island S ¼ E. Scrubbed and washed clothes. 1800 course SSE. Silhouette Island S4E.

1900 Reduced revolutions to 30 per minute.

2247 Altered course to SE ½ S. Midnight North island SE about 3 miles.

20 May 1870

Steering for Outer anchorage. Wind SSE 1 to 2 increasing to 4.

0200. Altered course to SE by S.

0350 altered course to ENE. 0500 Squared yards.

0600 Came to off St Anne’s Point. Sandy bottom in 9 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles.

0845 Weighed and shifted  berth to Barachois. [a coastal lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand or shingle bar]

0920 Came to in 10 fathoms with sandy bottom. Moored ship with 3 ½ on sandy bottom and 3 ½ on broken bottom. Out ladder. Out boom boats.

PM. Loosed sa…

Steering for Outer anchorage. Wind SSE 1 to 2 increasing to 4.

0200. Altered course to SE by S.

0350 altered course to ENE. 0500 Squared yards.

0600 Came to off St Anne’s Point. Sandy bottom in 9 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles.

0845 Weighed and shifted  berth to Barachois. [a coastal lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand or shingle bar]

0920 Came to in 10 fathoms with sandy bottom. Moored ship with 3 ½ on sandy bottom and 3 ½ on broken bottom. Out ladder. Out boom boats.

PM. Loosed sails.

1415 Furled sails. Watch employed strapping blocks for gun tackles and storing booms. Sailmakers repairing Jib. Artificers making good small defects.

1645 Mustered at Quarters.

1700. Furled sails. Up Top gallant masts. Up and moored boats. Watering by launch

21 May 1870

Moored in Port Victoria. Wind south easterly force 3 to 4 decreasing to 2. Maximum temperature 79F. Employed cleaning ship.

PM. Lost overboard by accident one 8” block. Launch away watering.

1715 Mustered at Quarters.

22 May 1870

Wind SE force 2 to 3.

1015 Mustered by Divisions to perform Divine Service.

1310 Gave special leave to both watches. Mustered at Quarters. Sunset – up boats.

23 May 1870

Wind South easterly force 2 to 3. Maximum temperature 80F.

AM Employed repairing Fore and main topsails. Read Warrants for dis-rating.. Artificers and carpenters as requisite.

1315 Furled sails. Down Royal yards. Employed fitting  gun gear. Bows, odd and 1st gun crews at truck gun drill. Washed clothes.

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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