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 November 1870

Gave General leave to starboard watch

08 November 1870

As needed. In boom boats

09 November 1870

0800 Dressed ship in honour of the anniversary pf the Prince of Wales Birthday. The whole of the merchant craft doing the same.

1230. Up screw. Found screw covered with long sea weed although it had been up within the last two months.

10 November 1870

At drill.

1130 Landed funeral party to inter the remains of Tom “Sea-breeze” Krooman ( Crewman) who died at Hospital. Preparing for sea. (Mauritius to Maki, Seychelles.

1600 Lit fires under one boiler. Assistant Harbour Master came onboard

1720. Slipped from moorings and proceed out under steam.

1740 Assistant Harbour Master left the ship. Set fore and aft sails.

2000. Flat Island light – East. Cannonic Light – SE ½ S. Made all plain sail save Royals and Fore Jib.

2135 Stopped steaming.…

At drill.

1130 Landed funeral party to inter the remains of Tom “Sea-breeze” Krooman ( Crewman) who died at Hospital. Preparing for sea. (Mauritius to Maki, Seychelles.

1600 Lit fires under one boiler. Assistant Harbour Master came onboard

1720. Slipped from moorings and proceed out under steam.

1740 Assistant Harbour Master left the ship. Set fore and aft sails.

2000. Flat Island light – East. Cannonic Light – SE ½ S. Made all plain sail save Royals and Fore Jib.

2135 Stopped steaming. 2230. Flat Island Light SE ¾ S.

2330 Flat Island Light SE by S ¼ S.2355. Lost sight of light bearing S ½ E.

11 November 1870

Latitude 18.33S. Longitude 57.5E. Variation 70W.  Current WSW. Agalega Island N5W 485 miles. Wind east force 2 to 4.  During forenoon  wind fell to light so steamed for one hour. Third class and second class at cutlass drill and truck gun drill.

1235. Course N by E. 1538. Again commence steaming until 2300. Making and shortening sail as required. Condensing. Under sail and steam.

12 November 1870

Latitude 16.16S. Longitude 57.1E. Wind NE force 3 to 2 increasing to 4 from the east

PM. Barometer 30.17 inches.

0330. Up Mainsail . wind fell light from NE. commenced steaming at

0350. Braced forward.. shortened and furled sail and set fore and aft sails. Being Saturday carried out the usual routine..

1700. Made plain sail save Royals and Forward jib. Stopped steaming. Condensing.. In main trysail and Spanker. Under sail and steam.

13 November 1870

Latitude  13.49S. Longitude 56.51E.  Current W by S. Wind E by S force 4. Under sail. Agalega Island N4W 200 miles. Observed several large meteors.

0500 Finished condensing and drew fires. Set Royals, Forward jib, starboard Topmast and Top gallants. Stud sails.. Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine Service.. Noon. In sails save for Topmast stud sail.

1210 altered course to north. Shifted Topsails.

2100 In Top mast studding sail.

14 November 1870

Latitude 11.45S.Longitude 56.18E. Current west. Wind easterly force 3 to 4 decreasing  to 2. Barometer 30.15 inches and dropping. 123 nautical miles covered. Under steam and sail.

0740. Commenced steaming. Shortened and furled square sails.

1030. Stopped and made all plain sail. Set Topmast and Top gallant stud sails. Employed as requisite.

15 November 1870

Latitude 9.36S. Longitude 55.44E. Current west. Wind easterly force 3. Barometer 30.14 inches. Maximum temperature 80F. Platte Island N3W 229 nautical miles.

1030. Commenced steaming. Making and shortening sail as necessary. First company of small arms men at rifle drill.

16 November 1870

Latitude 7.19S. Longitude 56.15E. Current N40E. Wind E by S force 2 becoming light airs. Barometer down to 30.11inches. Maximum temperature 84F.Platte Island N25W 101 nautical miles. Under sail and steam. Exercised at General and Fire Quarters.

1030. Observed Coeivy N by W. Shortened and furled sails. Noon Coeivy Island north 7 miles. Altered course to the west end of the reef. This island appears to be thoroughly well wooded and from the south a remarkable white cliff is to be seen. At a distan…

Latitude 7.19S. Longitude 56.15E. Current N40E. Wind E by S force 2 becoming light airs. Barometer down to 30.11inches. Maximum temperature 84F.Platte Island N25W 101 nautical miles. Under sail and steam. Exercised at General and Fire Quarters.

1030. Observed Coeivy N by W. Shortened and furled sails. Noon Coeivy Island north 7 miles. Altered course to the west end of the reef. This island appears to be thoroughly well wooded and from the south a remarkable white cliff is to be seen. At a distance the Island appears as two . The sea was breaking heavily on the reefs. A brigantine was anchored off West Coeivy. On the coral bank to the north and west of the island we got soundings in 12 to 13 fathoms (sand and coral). Centre of Coeivy E ½ S.

1500. Lost soundings. Course N 1/2W. Second and Third classes at detail gun and cutlass drill.

1630. Lost sight of Coeivy Island SE ½ S. 2100. Course north .

17 November 1870

Latitude 4.57S. Longitude 55.45E. Current N19E. Wind light airs from the east. Barometer 30112 inches. St Annes Island N29W 24 nautical  miles.

0615. Lit fires under second boiler.

0835 sighted land on port bow (Maki).

1145. Frigate Island NNE ½ E. Under steam. Noon. St Annes Peak N29W. 24 miles.. Squared yards..

1600 Rounded North Point of St Annes.

1630 Arrived in Barachois. Let go in 10 ½ fathoms on broken bottom and moored ship 3 shackles on each cable. Open hawse to SE on mooring swivel.…

Latitude 4.57S. Longitude 55.45E. Current N19E. Wind light airs from the east. Barometer 30112 inches. St Annes Island N29W 24 nautical  miles.

0615. Lit fires under second boiler.

0835 sighted land on port bow (Maki).

1145. Frigate Island NNE ½ E. Under steam. Noon. St Annes Peak N29W. 24 miles.. Squared yards..

1600 Rounded North Point of St Annes.

1630 Arrived in Barachois. Let go in 10 ½ fathoms on broken bottom and moored ship 3 shackles on each cable. Open hawse to SE on mooring swivel. Found here a Portuguese bark and two brigantines.

The weather on the passage had been exceedingly  fine with so little wind. We have felt the heat very much. The currents have been rather irregular. One day having a strong westerly and the next hardly any.

18 November 1870

Out boom boats. Employed scraping and blacking guns. Received from shore Warrant Officers stores belonging to BULLFINCH.

1630 A.  French gunboat SURPRISE from Mayotta arrived.

19 November 1870

Calm and light airs. Barometer steady at 30.12 inches. Cleaned ship throughout.

20 November 1870

Divisions. Performed Divine Service.

21 November 1870

0800 Crossed Royal yards and loosed sails. Lai out targets. Exercised at General Quarters firing shot and shell at targets.

1700. Furled sails. Down Royal yards.

22 November 1870

Employed coaling ship. Small arms men firing at target. Received 40 tons 17 cwt per lighter.

23 November 1870

Lighter came alongside. Received 14 tons 11 cwt. Employed cleaning ship. Blacked guns. 1

715 French mail steamer EZMINE arrived form Mauritius. Discharged AB W. Pope and Ropemaker  Robert Wright (Invalided) to mail steamer EZMINE for passage to England.

24 November 1870

0900. Mail Steamer EZMINE sailed. Employed making and mending clothes

25 November 1870

Pistolmen firing at targets. Cutlass men at drill. Mail steamer from Aden arrived a week late.

26 November 1870

ship sailed for Mauritius and French gunboat SURPRISE for Mayotta. Employed cleaning 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.

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