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.

24 January 1869

Latitude 36.18N. Longtitude 15.03 W. Wind Force 4/5.

Slung clean hammocks. Under sail at Midnight on the Starboard tack.

25 January 1869

Latitude 35.06N Longitude 15.31W.

Lit fire in one boiler for condensing. 1715 Scrubbed hammocks.

27 January 1869

Latitude 33.00N Longitude 15.02W. Wind WSW. Course SSW changing to NW.

A division of the watch at gun drill. PM. Missed stays and filled sails 20 minutes later and tacked. Cutlass men of watch at drill. Carpenter altered boats oars.

28 January 1869

Latitude 33.36N Longitude 16.15W. Wind Force 3 increasing to 8. Course NNW. 0745.

Top gallants taken in and Top Sails reefed. Down Royals. As wind eased to Force 3 at midnight sails reset.

29 January 1869

Latitude 33.21N Longitude 16.21 W. Course SSW to South. 0830 sighted land off the Starboard bow.  1800 commenced steaming.

30 January 1869

Latitude 32.58N Longitude 16.49W.

Wind Force 5/6 increasing 9 to 11 at noon.  1500 Wind calm increasing to force 11 at midnight. Sails altered accordingly.

01 February 1869

Anchored in Funchal Bay. Saluted Portuguese Fort with 21 guns which was returned. British Consul came aboard and was saluted with 7 guns.

01 February 1869

Anchored in Funchal Bay. Saluted Portuguese Fort with 21 guns which was returned. British Consul came aboard and was saluted with 7 guns.

02 February 1869

At Anchor off Funchal. Setting up lower rigging. Carpenter altering netting. Sailmaker fitting boat awnings.

04 February 1869

At anchor. 3 ½ tons of water taken onboard. Make and mending of clothes.

05 February 1869

At anchor. Pointed yards to wind. Watch making mats.

06 February 1869

At anchor. Shortened in cable and squared yards. Hoisted in bullocks. Furled sails.

07 February 1869

Sent diver down to reeve reeving lines of screw purchase. Divine service.

08 February 1869

Ship received some deal planks. Carpenter altered hammock netting. Prepared for sea. 1830. Weighed anchor. 1940. Pointed yards to wind, set fore and aft sails save for Trysails.

09 February 1869

Course SW ¼ S. Wind force 3. Rigged sails and hoisted screw up. Latitude 30.30N Longitude 17.56W.  2200 Lost by accident log lines number

 

10 February 1869

Course SW ¼ S. Wind force 3. Rigged sails and hoisted screw up. Latitude 30.30N Longitude 17.56W.  2200 Lost by accident log lines number

11 February 1869

Latitude 24.10N Longitude 19.18W.Course SSW. Wind Force 4/5 SSE.

Cleaned canvas coaling shoes. Make and mend. Served out slops. Cape Blanco bearing S31E 237 miles.

12 February 1869

Latitude 20.51N Longitude 19.35W. Course SW ¼ W Wind Force 3/5 Easterly. Late pm exercised making and shortening sail. Latitude by Proycyon 19.45 N

13 February 1869

Latitude 17.41N Longitude 19.41W. On course from Madeira to Sierra Leone. 0630.  Dried bedding and cleaned ship. 1700. Served out clean hammocks.

14 February 1869

Latitude 15.04 N Longitude 19.35W. Course S by W ¼ W. Wind Force 2/3. Performed Divine Service.

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.

Anchor crest

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