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.

25 September 1871

Wind SE force 2 becoming south westerly force 1 to 2.

0630. Lit fires under starboard boiler.

0730. In boom boats.

0815. Slipped moorings steaming as requisite round a target. Exercised at General Quarters firing shot, shell and case at a target.

1040. Took in moorings.

1110. Out pinnace. Employed picking oakum, pointing ropes etc.

26 September 1871

Wind west force 1 to 3 becoming SW force 3 to 4.

Working and dockyard party at dockyard. Picking oakum. Condensed and sent ashore spare Topmast. Artificers making good defects.

27 September 1871

Calm becoming NW force 1 to 2.

Employed picking oakum for caulking. Carpenters making loer boom Caulkers from dockyard caulking ship.

28 September 1871

Wind northerly force 4. Barometer 30.00 inches.

Caulkers from dockyard caulking ship. Employed picking oakum. Carpenters repairing decks

29 September 1871

Wind north force 3 becoming NW force 4.

Employed as requisite and scraping ship’s side. Exercised 5 and six firing at a target with 12 pounder howitzer.  Sailmakers making waist awning curtains.

30 September 1871

Wind NW force 2 becoming north force 2. Barometer 30.17 inches . maximum temperature 66F.

Caulker caking ship. Employed picking oakum.

1400. HMS TORCH sailed for the West Coast. Up screw.

01 October 1871

No formal weather reports available for October 1871

Captain Gordon Douglas superseded Captain Parish.

Performed divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel.

02 October 1871

Caulkers caulking ship. Party ashore at dockyard fitting new sails.

03 October 1871

As yesterday.

05 October 1871

Employed painting ships and as requisite.

06 October 1871

A party returning shakes and drawing Warrant officer’s stores. Received a new Topmast.

07 October 1871

Received sails from dockyard. re provisioning ship

08 October 1871

Performed Divine Service. Strong SSE winds

09 October 1871

Employed drawing provisions and storing holds. Coaling ship.

10 October 1871

Bent Fore and main trysails. Received bread and powder and stored them. BATTLESNAKE shifted berth; she having dragged during the day.

11 October 1871

Light westerly wind with slight rain all day. Discharged kroomen.

1500 Wind shifted suddenly to the southwards. Sunset. Down Top gallant masts.

12 October 1871

Employed as most requisite. Strong SSE winds with steady barometer 930.47 inches). Sunset Braced yards to wind.

13 October 1871

Exercised at General and Fire  Quarters. Employed as  most requisite. Wind from SSE.

14 October 1871

Employed cleaning ship throughout.

15 October 1871

Performed Divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. Pointed yards to wind.

 

Remarks – Simons Bay

During our stay we had very fine weather except with the westerly wind. We occasionally had a slight rain. The cloud and mist hanging over Simons Berg but with the south easterly wind which were foretold by the disappearance of Muysenberg and the hills on the eastern shore of the bay, by being covered by cloud with also the rise of the barometer. Having fresh winds for a couple of days …

Performed Divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. Pointed yards to wind.

 

Remarks – Simons Bay

During our stay we had very fine weather except with the westerly wind. We occasionally had a slight rain. The cloud and mist hanging over Simons Berg but with the south easterly wind which were foretold by the disappearance of Muysenberg and the hills on the eastern shore of the bay, by being covered by cloud with also the rise of the barometer. Having fresh winds for a couple of days and then falling light and probably shifting to  west.

From the 10th to the 16th October we were detained by a strong SSE wind force 5 to 6 and squally causing even a sea in the anchorage. Barometer 30.47 inches at the commencement and fil gradually to 30.10 on the 16th. In provisioning and coaling ship the African tug is usually at the disposal of the 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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