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 July 1870

Latitude 5.10S. Longitude 45.43E. Course easterly until 2000 and then SE by E. Wind SSE becoming Southerly force3 increasing to 4. African Island N87E at 448 nautical miles.

0600 Reset sails.

0800 Swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers altering spare main topsail. In fore Trysail and Mizzen top gallant sail.

PM.  Passed a barque passing to the north. Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers repairing Main sail, Main top gallant sail and  Forecastle a…

Latitude 5.10S. Longitude 45.43E. Course easterly until 2000 and then SE by E. Wind SSE becoming Southerly force3 increasing to 4. African Island N87E at 448 nautical miles.

0600 Reset sails.

0800 Swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers altering spare main topsail. In fore Trysail and Mizzen top gallant sail.

PM.  Passed a barque passing to the north. Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers repairing Main sail, Main top gallant sail and  Forecastle awning. Artificers repairing small defects. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

1700 Lost sight of barque.

2345. In top gallant sails, Jib and Spanker.

05 July 1870

Latitude 5.28S. Longitude 47.37E. Course SE by S changing to easterly at midday and northerly from 2000. Wind SSW becoming SE by E force 4 increasing to 6 occasional 7. African island N84E at 344 nautical miles. Barometer dropping from 30.06 inches to 29.95 inches before rising towards midnight.

0610 Set Main top gallant sail and Jib.

0620. Down Jib. Mustered at Quarters and prayers. 0920. Altered course to ESE. In first reef of Top sails and Main top gallant sails. Sailmakers repairing  Main t…

Latitude 5.28S. Longitude 47.37E. Course SE by S changing to easterly at midday and northerly from 2000. Wind SSW becoming SE by E force 4 increasing to 6 occasional 7. African island N84E at 344 nautical miles. Barometer dropping from 30.06 inches to 29.95 inches before rising towards midnight.

0610 Set Main top gallant sail and Jib.

0620. Down Jib. Mustered at Quarters and prayers. 0920. Altered course to ESE. In first reef of Top sails and Main top gallant sails. Sailmakers repairing  Main topsail.

1120 In second reef of Topsails.

1245 Lee clew of Main topsail carried away and sail split. Unbent sail and replaced with spare main topsail. Heavy squall.

1645 Mustered at Quarters.

2210 Out second ref of Topsails. Braced forward.

06 July 1870

Latitude 4.8S. Longitude 48.47E. Course Easterly – northerly at noon and then easterly again. Wind south easterly force 5 decreasing to 3 before increasing to 5 towards midnight. African Island S 01 E at 277 nautical miles.

0615. Crossed Fore and Main top gallant yards.

0740 Crossed Mizzen top gallant yards and shifted Jib.

1000 Set main Top gallant sail. Employed repairing main Topsail, Mainsail  and forecastle awning. Artificers making good small defects.

PM Set Fore and Main trysails, furl…

Latitude 4.8S. Longitude 48.47E. Course Easterly – northerly at noon and then easterly again. Wind south easterly force 5 decreasing to 3 before increasing to 5 towards midnight. African Island S 01 E at 277 nautical miles.

0615. Crossed Fore and Main top gallant yards.

0740 Crossed Mizzen top gallant yards and shifted Jib.

1000 Set main Top gallant sail. Employed repairing main Topsail, Mainsail  and forecastle awning. Artificers making good small defects.

PM Set Fore and Main trysails, furled courses. Bent and set Fore staysail and on steaming covers. To avoid being set to leeward of Seychelles and having to use steam against strong trade winds and NW current up steam in starboard boiler and proceeded under steam and fore and aft sails. Swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Down Top gallant masts and set spanker. Split Jib. Down Jib.

07 July 1870

Latitude 3.56S. Longitude 49.55E. Course ESE changing to south easterly before returning to an easterly direction. Wind force 3 to 5. African Island S75E at 217 nautical miles.

0140. Latitude by Cygni 4.2S.

0600 Sent Jib in for repairs. Swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Sailmakers repairing Jib.. Artificers making good small defects. Bent small Jib. Watch as required.

1150. Reset sails.

PM. Sold the effects of the late  Able Seaman J Groggins. Making and mending cloths. Artificers m…

Latitude 3.56S. Longitude 49.55E. Course ESE changing to south easterly before returning to an easterly direction. Wind force 3 to 5. African Island S75E at 217 nautical miles.

0140. Latitude by Cygni 4.2S.

0600 Sent Jib in for repairs. Swell from SE. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Sailmakers repairing Jib.. Artificers making good small defects. Bent small Jib. Watch as required.

1150. Reset sails.

PM. Sold the effects of the late  Able Seaman J Groggins. Making and mending cloths. Artificers making good small defects. Swell from SE. Washed clothes.

1820 Set Foresail. Down Fore staysail. Stars obscured.

08 July 1870

Latitude 4.9S. Longitude 51.17 E. Course easterly Wind SSE force 3 to 5 decreasing to 2 to 3. African island S74E at 147 nautical miles.  Heavy swell from SE..

0900 Muster at Quarters and prayers. Watch employed repairing Main topsail. Sailmakers repairing Jib and forecastle awning. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Boys at cutlass drill. Midshipmen at seamanship. Carpenters repairing Galley. Sailmakers repairing Main  sail, Jib and forecastle awning.

16.50 mustered at Quarters.

09 July 1870

Latitude 4.30S. Longitude 52.41E. Course Easterly. Wind SSE force 2 to 3. Silhouette Island East at 167 nautical miles.

0030. Latitude by Altair 4.25S.

0800. Employed cleaning ship throughout. Sailmakers repairing Jib.

1125. Shifted Jib. Artificers making good small defects. Carpenters repairing Galley.

1520 Set Topsails.

1645. Mustered at Quarters..

1756. Mizzen topsail split. In Mizzen tosail.2040 altered course to E ½ S.

2100 Latitude by the moon 4.22S.

10 July 1870

Latitude 4.42S. Longitude 55.2 E. Course Easterly. Wind force 3 to 4 decreasing to calm at 1900 before picking up to force 2. Silhouette island S 78 E at 15 nautical miles.

0610. Altered course to E by S.

0800. Set Mizzen topsail. Mustered by the Open List. Performed divine service.

1050. Rounded in. 1115. Observed land on port bow and ahead.

1130. Course  SE by E ½ E.

1300. Observed Maki ahead.

1400. Course SE by E. 1500. South point Silhouette bearing north. Course E by S ½ E. 1625. Course …

Latitude 4.42S. Longitude 55.2 E. Course Easterly. Wind force 3 to 4 decreasing to calm at 1900 before picking up to force 2. Silhouette island S 78 E at 15 nautical miles.

0610. Altered course to E by S.

0800. Set Mizzen topsail. Mustered by the Open List. Performed divine service.

1050. Rounded in. 1115. Observed land on port bow and ahead.

1130. Course  SE by E ½ E.

1300. Observed Maki ahead.

1400. Course SE by E. 1500. South point Silhouette bearing north. Course E by S ½ E. 1625. Course ESE.

1645 Mustered at Quarters. Shortened and furled sails. Squared yards. Up Top gallant masts. HMS Dryad in Barachois.

1820. Stopped and came to with sandy bottom in 13 ¾ fathoms and veered to three shackles. Banked fires. Condensing.  Magnetic bearing – St Anne’s Peak E by N – End of Cerf Island SSE

11 July 1870

Wind  southerly force 1 to 2.

AM. Put into quarantine until 19th. Read Admiralty Order for the discharge of H.M.D. Grant Assistant Paymaster.

1020. Shifted berth under steam. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Opened  two cases of tobacco  which were found to be deficient by 16 lbs.  Third class at rifle drill. Sailmakers repairing  Jib and main topsail. Scrubbed hammocks and washed clothes.

12 July 1870

Wind SSE force 2 increasing to 5 before falling to 2.

0800. Loosed sails. Mustered at Quarters and read prayers. Employed unshipping and cleaning capstan. Carpenters repairing ship’s rudder head. Sailmakers repairing Jib and main topsail..

PM Small arms men at rifle drill. Artificers at various jobs.  Replaced capstan.

1715. Mustered by Divisions. Inspected clean hammocks. Furled sails.

13 July 1870

Wind SSE force 2. Temperature 76 F. Barometer steady at 30.05 inches.

AM. Observed total eclipse of the moon. Prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Firing empty and filled shell at a target.

PM. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Midshipmen at cutlass drill.

1715 Quarters. Rove messenger. Given Pratique  [Pratique is the license given to a ship to enter port on assurance from the captain to convince the authorities that she is free from contagious disease.]

14 July 1870

Wind south easterly force2. Maximum temperature 81F.

AM Up steam in one boiler.

0500. Shortened in to one shackle.

0545. Weighed and shifted berth to Port Victoria.

0630 Came to with broken bottom in 10 fathoms . Moored ship with 5 ¾ shackles on starboard cable and 3 shackles on port cable.

0900. Out boom boats. Quarters and prayers. Employed as needed. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Employed making and mending clothes. Received stores from BULLFINCH and Warrant Officers stores from …

Wind south easterly force2. Maximum temperature 81F.

AM Up steam in one boiler.

0500. Shortened in to one shackle.

0545. Weighed and shifted berth to Port Victoria.

0630 Came to with broken bottom in 10 fathoms . Moored ship with 5 ¾ shackles on starboard cable and 3 shackles on port cable.

0900. Out boom boats. Quarters and prayers. Employed as needed. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Employed making and mending clothes. Received stores from BULLFINCH and Warrant Officers stores from DRYAD. Mr Tout- engineer and 6 marines joined. Scrubbed and washed clothes. Received engineer stores.

15 July 1870

Wind south easterly force 1 increasing to 4 by 1700. Barometer rising from 30 inches  to 30.05 inches.

0800. Discharged W.B. (Rest of text unreadable) to DRAYAD. Thos. Symond Master at Arms joined from DRAYAD.

0945. DRAYAD sailed. Mustered at Quarters. Employed refitting Jib. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Second company of small arms men at drill. Midshipmen and boys at rifle drill.

1715 Mustered at Quarters.

16 July 1870

Wind south to SSW up to force 7 decreasing to 4 at midday.

AM Employed cleaning ship throughout.

0900 Portuguese man of war came out of quarantine and shifted berth to Barachois.

PM> employed scraping masts and booms.

1715 mustered at Quarters. Up boats.

17 July 1870

Wind SSW force 7 decreasing to 3 to 5. Barometer dropping to 29.97 inches.

0500. English brig BRISK arrived.

0945. Mustered by Divisions and performed Divine Service..

PM. Gave special Leave.. Mustered at Quarters. Unbent fore and main trysails.

18 July 1870

Wind SSW force 1  to 4. Barometer 29.95 inches before rising to 29.99 inches. Maximum temperature 77F.

AM. Mustered at Quarters. Prayers. Watch employed repairing rigging mats, reeving new Top sail halyards. Sailmakers repairing Trysails. Artificers making good small defects.

PM. Exercised six guns crews at gun drill. Watch employed as needed. Sailmakers as in the forenoon. Preparing for coaling ship.

19 July 1870

Wind South westerly force 2 to 3. Barometer dropping to 29.96 inches.

0520. Commenced coaling ship. Artificers making good small defects.

PM received 64 tons of coal. Employed coaling ship.

1600 Received 98 tons of coal.

1840. Finished coaling. Received 116 tons. Cleaned ship.

20 July 1870

Wind SW force4 to 5 becoming calm. Barometer dropping to 29.90 before rising to 29.98 Inches.

AM. Employed cleaning ship throughout. Sent stores for BULLFINCH to store on shore..

PM Employed preparing for sea. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail. Artificers making good small defects. In boom boats. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

21 July 1870

Wind Calm. Barometer rising to 30.00 inches. Maximum temperature 78F.

0800 Crossed top gallant yards.

0825. Unmoored ship. Shortened in on sandy bottom to two shackles. In small boats. Bent Trysails. Carpenters making good small defects.

1200. Lit fires in boilers.

1400. Weighed and proceeded under steam out of harbour. Carpenters making frames for gratings.

1500 Shaped course ESE. Heavy swell from SE.

1650. Mustered at Quarters.

22 July 1870

Latitude 5.15 S. Longitude 56.57 E. Course ESE – Maki to Mauritius. Wind direction variable from SSW to South to ESE force 1 increasing to 4. Barometer 29.93 rising to 30.02 inches.

0610 Sun rose N76E. Heading ESE..

0850 Set fore and aft sails except Main trysail and Jib. Exercised at General Quarters.

9.50 Set Foresail.

1000 to 1030 Sounded in 12 fathoms. Employed pointing and grafting etc. Sailmakers repairing main topsail.

1200. Course SE ¾ E.

1230. Exchanged Colours with an American Whale…

Latitude 5.15 S. Longitude 56.57 E. Course ESE – Maki to Mauritius. Wind direction variable from SSW to South to ESE force 1 increasing to 4. Barometer 29.93 rising to 30.02 inches.

0610 Sun rose N76E. Heading ESE..

0850 Set fore and aft sails except Main trysail and Jib. Exercised at General Quarters.

9.50 Set Foresail.

1000 to 1030 Sounded in 12 fathoms. Employed pointing and grafting etc. Sailmakers repairing main topsail.

1200. Course SE ¾ E.

1230. Exchanged Colours with an American Whaler- HERALD. Employed unbending gangers.

1330. Up  Foresail. Sailmakers repairing Main topsail. Artificers making good small defects. Pointed yards to the wind. Mustered at Quarters.

1800. Set Main trysail. 2025. Tacked.

23 July 1870

Latitude5.54.S. Longitude 57.35E.  Course South easterly. Wind force 3 later increasing to 6.

AM Employed cleaning ship.

0915 Split Jib. Took in Jib and Spanker.

1315. Tacked. Set Foresail. Threw overboard 22 lbs of cocoa – it being bad. Stowed bower anchor.

1645 mustered at Quarters.

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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