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.

17 December 1870

Wind northerly force 1 to 2 veering to easterly force 1 to 2. Barometer maximum 30.07 inches – minimum 29.93 inches

18 December 1870

Wind NNE force 1 to 2 becoming ESE force 2

19 December 1870

Wind North force 1 becoming ENE force 1

20 December 1870

Wind North force 2 to 3 becoming NE force 1

21 December 1870

Wind North force 3 becoming NE force 4 to 3. Maximum barometer 29.98 inches.

22 December 1870

Wind North force 3 to 4 becoming NE force 2  to 3. Barometer steady

23 December 1870

Wind north force 1 to 2. Employed cleaning ship throughout.

0730. Fort and Flag ship of Zanzibar  fired a salute of 25 guns and dressed ships it being the first day of the three day Feast of Beram,

24 December 1870

Wind NNE force 2. Barometer maximum 30.07 inches.

25 December 1870

Wind N by E force 1 to 2 becoming ENE force 3. Sunday Mustered and performed divine Service. Ship’s company not allowed leave.

26 December 1870

Calm becoming ENE force 3. Up screw for inspection. Setting up top gallant rigging and as requisite.

1320. In boom boats. Preparing for sea. Weather fine.

27 December 1870

Wind N by E force 2 to 3 becoming ENE force 3. Maximum temperature 84F.

0400. Lit fires under number 1 boiler.

0530. Weighed and proceeded under steam through northern passage.

0800 Barry island SSW 1/2W.

0910 Altered course to N by ENE. Lit fires under port boiler. 1100 Proceeded with two boilers.

1130. Course NE by N. Artificers making good small defects . Stashed deck cargo of bread and beef. Noon. Hog Point E ¼ S. North Point Moina S 1/4E – magnetic bearings. Set fore and aft sails.

2300 …

Wind N by E force 2 to 3 becoming ENE force 3. Maximum temperature 84F.

0400. Lit fires under number 1 boiler.

0530. Weighed and proceeded under steam through northern passage.

0800 Barry island SSW 1/2W.

0910 Altered course to N by ENE. Lit fires under port boiler. 1100 Proceeded with two boilers.

1130. Course NE by N. Artificers making good small defects . Stashed deck cargo of bread and beef. Noon. Hog Point E ¼ S. North Point Moina S 1/4E – magnetic bearings. Set fore and aft sails.

2300 In fore and aft sails. Steaming north inside Pemba and main land.

28 December 1870

Wind NE by N force 3. Under steam and sail. African Isles S86E 800 nautical miles. Misty morning – could just see the mainland. Exercised at at General Quarters. Swell from NE. Noon altered course to  NE.

2330 Set fore and aft sails.

1159. In fore and aft sails.

29 December 1870

Wind NE by E force 3 becoming ENE force 4.Under steam and sail. African isles S81E 740 nautical miles.

0630. Set fore and aft sails. Making and mending clothes. . In flying jib. Made nothing to 2.50S. altered course to E by S. wind NE by N.

1600. Making and mending clothes.

30 December 1870

Wind east force 3 to 4 becoming NNE force 2  to 3 Under steam and sail. African Isles S86E 612 nautical miles.

0400 steaming full and bye with fore and aft sails. Africa S86E 624 nautical miles. Wind shifted to NE by N. made all plain sail except for Royals. Stopped steaming/. Passing through several tide rips.

31 December 1870

Wind NE by E force 3 becoming NNE force 3  to 4. Under sail. African Isles S88E 480 nautical miles. Daylight found Main topsail split. Shifted sail. Quarters.

PM. In reef of Topsails.

01 January 1871

Latitude  4.48S. Longitude 47.13E. Course S85E. Wind N by E force 4 becoming NNE force 2 to 3. Under sail.

0600. Out reefs. Performed Divine Service.

02 January 1871

Latitude 5.10S. Longitude 49.9E Course S70E. Wind NNE force 3 to 4. Under sail.  Clearing boats and store room and surveying remains.

1400 Saw a vessel standing to the west under rather reduced sail.

03 January 1871

Latitude 4.59S. Longitude 50.58E. Course N84E. Wind Northerly force 2 becoming NNW force 2. Under sail. Surveyed boats, stores and hemp cables.

1500. Rounded in. Set Topmast studding sails. Wind NNW. Wind drawing to the westward.

04 January 1871

Latitude 4.18S. Longitude 52.51 E. Course N70E. Wind  NW by N force 2 becoming north westerly 3 to 4. Under sail.

0615. Set Port Top gallant studding sails. Cleared sail room.

PM. Quarters . Exercised reefing and shaking out reefs of Topsails. Wind NW force 3 to with broken cloud.

05 January 1871

Latitude 3.30S. Longitude 55.13 E. Course N71E. Wind NW 2 to 3  increasing to  3 to 4. Under sail.

0625.  In studding sails.

0730 Set Studding sails.

0845. Course E ½ N. Surveyed gunners store. Sailmakers making Poop awning. Making and mending clothes.

1530. In Studding sails and Top gallant sails.

1900 Set fore and main Top gallant sails. Weather very unsettled and raining.

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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