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 July 1871

Calm becoming east force 2.

Gave general leave to starboard watch. Un shipped sheet anchors stocks to scrape them before re stocking them.

06 July 1871

Calm becoming SE force 1.

0600. Gave leave to port watch. Employed pointing, grafting etc and fitting new tye.  (A runner of thick rope or chain which forms part of the purchase used for hoisting the Top sail and Top gallant yards.) Carpenters repairing boats onshore.

07 July 1871

Wind SE force 2.

Employed repairing main sail and pointing and grafting. Party at cutlass drill.

08 July 1871

Wind ESE force 3 to 4 becoming SE force 3.

Employed cleaning ship throughout.

09 July 1871

Wind east force 1 to 2 becoming south easterly force 3.

0800. French mail steamer DANUBE arrived. Mustered by the Open List. Sent roman Catholics to Chapel. Performed Divine service.

10 July 1871

Wind south easterly  force 2 increasing to 3.

0800. Crossed Royal yards and loosed sails. Foremost Quarters at gun drill. Employed as most requisite.

11 July 1871

Wind SE force 2 becoming south easterly force 2 to 4. Maximum temperature 72F.

Gave general leave to port watch. Employed as most requisite. Carpenters repairing upper deck. Sent field piece ashore. Received 17 tons of water.

12 July 1871

Wind ESE force 2 to 4 increasing to 5.

Gave general leave to starboard watch.. Employed repairing mainsail. Training company at cutlass drill.

13 July 1871

Wind ESE force 2 to 4 decreasing to 2 to 3.

Crossed Upper yards and loosed sails. Marines at drill. Employed as most requisite. .

1115.  Furled sails. Down Upper yards. Employed making and mending clothes.

14 July 1871

Wind SE force 2.

Crossed Royal yards and loosed sails. Exercised at General Quarters.

1030. Furled sails. Down Royal yards. Watch employed repairing mainsail. Sent field piece on shore.

1700 manned and armed boats.

15 July 1871

Wind SE force 1 increasing to 2. Barometer 30.36inches.

Employed cleaning ship throughout.

16 July 1871

Wind SE force 4 increasing to 5..

Mustered at Divisions and Performed Divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel.

17 July 1871

Wind SE force 4.

0800 Crossed Royal yards and loosed sails. Foremost Quarters at gun drill.

1315 Furled sails. Down Royal yards. First company of small arms men at drill.

18 July 1871

Calm becoming SE force 1.

Sent down Topmasts on deck. Carpenters repairing boats.

1500. Up Topmasts.

19 July 1871

Wind SE force 1 to 2. Barometer 30.30 inches.

Setting up Topmast rigging. Sent up Top gallant masts. Employed as requisite.

20 July 1871

Wind SE force 1 to 2 becoming ESE force 3 to 4.

0800. Loosed sails to dry. Field gun party landed.

21 July 1871

Wind SE force 2 to 3. Barometer 30.34 inches.

0800. Crossed Top gallant and Royal yards. Exercised at General Quarters. Field piece party ashore at Fort St George firing at target. Manned and armed boats.

22 July 1871

Wind SE force 2 increasing to 3.

Employed cleaning ship throughout.

23 July 1871

Wind ESE force 4 becoming south easterly  force 3 to 5. Barometer 30.41 inches.

Performed Divine Service.

24 July 1871

Wind ESE force 4 becoming ESE force 5.

Exercised making and shortening sail and shifting Topsail. Landed second company of small arms men.

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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