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.

05 January 1871

Latitude  21.16S. Longitude 111.50E. Course N77W. Wind south westerly force to increasing to 4. Under Sail. Steady sw westerly winds.

Exercised at General Quarters. Employed as most requisite. Unbent cables and stowed anchors.

06 January 1871

Latitude 3.28S. Longitude 57.22E. Course N89E. Wind North force 3 becoming NNW force 1 to 2. Under sail. Addoo Atoll N80E 960 nautical miles. (Now spelt Addu Athollhu – Maldives) Fine weather. Set port Topmast and Top gallant stud sails.

Noon Altered course  to E by N. shifted Jib and main topsail..

1145. Observed a partial eclipse of the moon.. Light airs from the south. Passed some sea weed.

06 January 1871

Latitude  20.00S. longitude 109.57E. Course N59W. Wind south westerly force 4 decreasing  to force 3. Under sail.

Employed cleaning ship throughout. Reef of Topsail.

07 January 1871

Latitude 3.13S. Longitude 58.51E. Course N82E. Wind WSW force 2  becoming westerly force 1 to 2. Barometer maximum 29.89 inches maximum temperature 80F. Under sail. Employed cleaning ship throughout. Passed some sea weed.

1145. Rounded in. Boys at rifle drill..1820 Squared yards. Condensing.

08 January 1871

Latitude 2.40S. Longitude 60.21E. Course N70E. Wind WSW force  1 to 2 becoming W by N  force 2.Under sail.

0610. Set Topmast and Top gallant stud sails. Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine Service..

Noon. Altered course to east. Current setting to northwards.

1315. In studding sails. Set Port topmast  and Top gallant studding sails.

1705. Braced forward on port tack. Weather rather threatening. In studding sails. Passed through plenty of sea weed during the day.

09 January 1871

Latitude 2.19S. Longitude 62.0E.Course N78E. Wind WNW force 2 to 3 becoming NW by W force 2 to 3.

Under sail. Addoo Atoll N82E 678 nautical miles .Employed getting up and surveying Carpenters stores. Set Port Topmast and Top gallant stud sails. Strong current to the NE.

Noon altered course to E ½

10 January 1871

Latitude 2.22S. Longitude 64.1E. Course S88E.Wind NNW force 3.

Under sail. Weather looking very unsettled with lots of rain. In lower and top gallant stud sails to a squall from WNW. Condensing. A northerly set.. altered course to east. Exercised shifting sails.

11 January 1871

Latitude 2.39S. Longitude 66.21E. Course S83E. Wind WNW force 3 to 4 becoming NW force 3 to 5.

Under sail.  Passing showers of heavy rain with very little wind. In topmast stud sails. Up Mainsail. Squared yards. Altered course to E by N. Wind variable between NNW and west with occasional squalls. Weather looking threatening..

12 January 1871

Latitude 2.6S. Longitude 68.35E. Course N76E. Wind W by S force 4 becoming west force 4 to 5.

Under sail. Barometer 29.99 inches. Maximum temperature 84F. Out reefs. Set top gallant sails. Heavy rain.

13 January 1871

Latitude 1.36S. Longitude 70.39E. Course N76E. Wind south westerly force 4 to 6 becoming westerly 4 to 5.

Under sail. Weather threatening at  0001.

0330 In top gallant sails. Braced forward on starboard tack. During the night heavy rain with thunder and lightning.

0745. Heavy squalls. In first reef of Forward and main top sails. And a second reef in Mizzen  topsail.. Squared yards. F

ore noon sights not good and very late – 1440.

Noon. Altered course to East.   Longitude by Chronometer 71.…

Latitude 1.36S. Longitude 70.39E. Course N76E. Wind south westerly force 4 to 6 becoming westerly 4 to 5.

Under sail. Weather threatening at  0001.

0330 In top gallant sails. Braced forward on starboard tack. During the night heavy rain with thunder and lightning.

0745. Heavy squalls. In first reef of Forward and main top sails. And a second reef in Mizzen  topsail.. Squared yards. F

ore noon sights not good and very late – 1440.

Noon. Altered course to East.   Longitude by Chronometer 71.26E.

1835.  Set Top gallant sails. Fine weather  with light SW wind.

14 January 1871

Latitude 1.13S. Longitude 72.32E. Course N77E. Wind SW force 2 reducing to light airs.

Under sail. Out reefs. Cleaning ship throughout.

Noon. Altered course to E ½ S. Strong easterly set. Squared yards. Up mainsail. Light westerly winds.

2300. Observed two vessels lights bearing south. One supposes to be steamers. Midnight. Lost sight of steamers bearing SW ½ S

15 January 1871

Latitude 1.6 S. Longitude 73.39E. Course N84E. Wind SW force 2 to 3 becoming light airs from the south. Overcast.

Under sail. Daylight. Braced forward to a light breeze from WSW and southward. Course E ½ S . set starboard stud sails. Performed Divine Service.

1300. Wind shifted to southward. Braced forward. Set mainsail and Jib.

16 January 1871

Latitude 1.9S. Longitude 74.49E. Course S88E. Wind south force 1to 2 becoming SW force 1.

Broken cloud Under sail. Cleared Bread room. Surveying bread. Strong currents to the eastward. Working for Equator.

1415. Meridian 900. Rounded in. Up weather clew of Mainsail. Sunset – Deviation by Amplitude. 0.56W. 21030. Squared yards. Up lee  clew of mainsail.

17 January 1871

Latitude 1.17S. Longitude 76.39E. Course S86E. Wind WNW force 3 becoming North westerly force 4 to 5.

Under sail. Barometer at noon 29.92 inches / Midnight 29.97 inches.

Daylight. Splendid clear weather. Set por. Passed through tide rips.

1120. In stud sails. Trimmed. In Top gallant sails. Down Jib and lowered Top sails to a squall from NW which came up rather suddenly with plenty of rain and wind force 5 to 6.

1320. In first reef of Top sails and set Top sails. Wind NNW force 6 with rain.

1700 …

Latitude 1.17S. Longitude 76.39E. Course S86E. Wind WNW force 3 becoming North westerly force 4 to 5.

Under sail. Barometer at noon 29.92 inches / Midnight 29.97 inches.

Daylight. Splendid clear weather. Set por. Passed through tide rips.

1120. In stud sails. Trimmed. In Top gallant sails. Down Jib and lowered Top sails to a squall from NW which came up rather suddenly with plenty of rain and wind force 5 to 6.

1320. In first reef of Top sails and set Top sails. Wind NNW force 6 with rain.

1700 In second reef to Top sails. Set mainsail. Wind falling light.

1900. Out second reefs of Top sails. Set Main sail and Top gallant sails. Squared yards.

2330. Braced forward. Wind NNW force 2 to 3. Weather clearing up.

18 January 1871

Latitude 1.41S. Longitude 78.42E. Course S79E. Wind  North force 2  becoming N by W force 2.

Under sail. Made sail at daylight. Exercised at  General and fire Quarters.. Set port Stud sails.

1700. Exercises shifting Course, Jib and Spanker.

19 January 1871

Latitude 1.58S. Longitude 80.21E. Course S79E. Wind NNW force 1 increasing to force 3.

Under sail. In Stud sails. Rounded in .

0610. Set port  Stud sails. Aired bedding. Noon . Altered course  to E by N ½ N. Paid down Ship’s

Company. Employed making and mending clothes. Wind NNW force 2 to 3

20 January 1871

Latitude 1.49S. Longitude 83.2E. Course N78E. Wind NW force 3 to 4 becoming north westerly force 3

Under sail. Sunrise.  Deviation by Amplitude 1.20E. Sailmakers making Quarterdeck and Poop deck awnings. Strong easterly current. Issued slops to Ship’s Company.

Noon. Altered course to NE by E ½ E. Shifted Topsails. Midnight. Wind NW by W force 3 to 4. Appearance  of skies threatening lightning all round.

21 January 1871

Latitude  1.7S. Longitude 85.51E. Course N76E. wind NNW force 4  becoming variable from the north  force 3.

Under sail. In Stud sail s.

0015. Altered course to NE by E.. weather very thick. In top gallant sails. Down Jib. In first and second reef of Topsails. Wind light. Shortened and furled sails.

1945. Proceeded under steam. Very heavy rain. Calm.

22 January 1871

Latitude 0.21S. Longitude 87.35E. Course N66E. Wind northerly force 3  becoming north by east force 1 to 2.

Under steam.

0100. Set fore and aft sails.

0720. Commenced steaming with both boilers. Performed Divine Service.

1820. In fore and aft sails. Wind hauling round to the north and east.

23 January 1871

Latitude 1.27N. Longitude 88.50E. Course N35E.Wind S by E force 1 becoming SSW force 1.

Under steam. Barometer maximum 30.04. maximum temperature 83F.  Foul Point Ceylon N47W 618 nautical miles.

Daybreak. Made sail to Top gallant, Jib and lee clew of mainsail on the starboard tack. Light wind from SSE. Weather fine. Crossed the Equator in Longitude 88E..

Noon. Altered course to north.. Set N53E 35 miles.

1400. Shortened and furled sails. Light airs from SSW with broken cloud. Passed a large tre…

Latitude 1.27N. Longitude 88.50E. Course N35E.Wind S by E force 1 becoming SSW force 1.

Under steam. Barometer maximum 30.04. maximum temperature 83F.  Foul Point Ceylon N47W 618 nautical miles.

Daybreak. Made sail to Top gallant, Jib and lee clew of mainsail on the starboard tack. Light wind from SSE. Weather fine. Crossed the Equator in Longitude 88E..

Noon. Altered course to north.. Set N53E 35 miles.

1400. Shortened and furled sails. Light airs from SSW with broken cloud. Passed a large tree and some bark.

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

Anchor crest

Receive our newsletters?