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 April 1861

Portsmouth Harbour (Census)

01 June 1861

Throughout the month of June 1861.

Cape of Good Hope Station.

22 August 1862

Paid off at Sheerness.

01 September 1862

Throughout the month of September 1862.

Sheerness

19 May 1863

Re-commissioned under Captain William Rae Rolland for the Mediterranean

01 June 1863

Throughout the month of June 1863.

Mediterranean Station

26 May 1865

Under Captain Richard Dunning White in the Mediterranean

23 February 1867

Paid off at Sheerness

01 April 1867

Throughout the month of April 1867.

Sheerness.

09 December 1868

9 – 15 December 1868
Sheerness Harbour under Captain John Edward Parish checking masts and running gear.

16 December 1868

16 -19 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Cleaning holds, receiving stores and ordnance.

20 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Ship’s company to church

21 December 1868

21-24 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Continued to provision ship

25 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour – Christmas Day.

26 December 1868

26 – 28 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Preparing ship

29 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Warped into dry dock.

30 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Raised screw. Scrubbed ship’s bottom. Drew and fitted sails.

31 December 1868

Sheerness Harbour. Ship undocked and taken into the stream.

1 January 1869

Sheerness Harbour. Checking Chronometer

02 January 1869

Sheerness Harbour. Swinging ship to adjust compass. Squared yards and cleaned decks.

Compass Deviation Table

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.

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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