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.

16 October 1871

Wind fill light. Employed preparing for sea.

1100. Slipped moorings and proceeded under steam out of Simon’s Bay taking the inside passage with Roman Rock Light on with Elsey Peak bearing. Sighted the Bellons breaking heavily.

Noon. Beacons in one  W ¾ S. Light house S55W. Shaped course south.

1300. Stopped for half an hour owing to hot bearing in the engine room.

1800. Danger Point S63E Cape of Good Hope N5W. Up screw. Altered course to SW by ¼ S. made sail to single reefed Topsails and To…

Wind fill light. Employed preparing for sea.

1100. Slipped moorings and proceeded under steam out of Simon’s Bay taking the inside passage with Roman Rock Light on with Elsey Peak bearing. Sighted the Bellons breaking heavily.

Noon. Beacons in one  W ¾ S. Light house S55W. Shaped course south.

1300. Stopped for half an hour owing to hot bearing in the engine room.

1800. Danger Point S63E Cape of Good Hope N5W. Up screw. Altered course to SW by ¼ S. made sail to single reefed Topsails and Top gallant sails.

2115 Lost sight of Light N by E. Light southerly wind.

17 October 1871

0700. Wind fell and light airs sprang up from north westward freshening at about noon. Set starboard Topsails and Top gallant stud sails.

Midnight. Wind westerly force 3 to 4

18 October 1871

Wind shifted to the south westered with passing showers. Barometer rising slowly. In second reefs of  Topsails. One sail in sight.

2100. Wore and stood WSW. Wind shifting top the southward

19 October 1871

Heavy SSE swell. Out reefs. Wind drawing to the eastward. Making and mending clothes.

20 October 1871

Midnight . Breeze sprang up from ENE freshening quickly. Barometer falling.

0200. Reefed Foresail and close reefed Fore and main topsails. Furled Mizzen topsail.

1100. Out  second reef of Topsails.

1700. Barometer fallig still and weather looking more settled. Treble reefed Topsails. Reefed Courses. Dow Top gallant yards. Lightening to the north westwards and to the north.

Midnight Barometer 29.79 inches.

21 October 1871

0200. Wind fel almost to a calm and one hours’ time it sprang up from the south westward.

Daylight. Sail in sight. Out third and second reefs of Topsails and reefs of Courses. Crossed Top gallant yards and set Top Gallant sails. Heavy easterly swell. Second sail in sight standing eastward. Barometer 29.87 inches. Wind south westerly force 4.

22 October 1871

Daybreak. Two sail in sight. Altered course to SE by E. easterly swell. Wind from westward

23 October 1871

Wind increasing and heavy appearance of the weather. Closed reefed Fore and main Topsails. Down Top gallant yards. On preventers braces and parralls. Employed as requisite. Barometer falling slightly and at 1400 weather moderated to a strong breeze.

24 October 1871

Blowing at times. A fresh gale with squalls of wind. Rain nearly all  day.

1500. Reefed Foresails. Barometer 29.76 to 29.82 inches. Sailmakers repairing Mizzen top gallant sail

25 October 1871

Wind shifted to the SW blowing fresh all day with occasional squalls. Barometer rising. Sailmakers repairing Fore top gallant sails. Watch employed as requisite and picking oakum.

1420 Set and reefed mainsail.

26 October 1871

Out second and third reefs of Topsails. And reefs of Courses. Light south westerly wind. Barometer rising. Sailmakers repairing Fore top gallant sail. 1

100. Mustered by the Open list. Numerous birds following the ship. C. Pigeon, Albatross  and Petrel.

2000. Braced round to a light breeze from northward.

27 October 1871

Northerly wind all day increasing in force to 8. Barometer falling rapidly.

Midnight. barometer 29.62 inches. Temperature 58F.. Course SE by E.

1600. Close reefed and reefed courses. Down Jib and set Fore staysail.

2100. Up mainsail. Altered course to SE by S.

28 October 1871

0400. wind from N by E blowing a full gale and barometer falling rapidly. On preventer braces. Down Top gallant masts.

0700. Altered course to south. Noon. Barometer 28.99. Temperature 55F.

1210. Wind shifted to WNW from northward in a heavy squall. (Force 10). Braced round to WNW. The shift of wind also affected the temperature of the air so much as to occasion it falling to 44F. . During the early part of the day we had a heavy cross sea making the ship labour very heavily making the Upper dec…

0400. wind from N by E blowing a full gale and barometer falling rapidly. On preventer braces. Down Top gallant masts.

0700. Altered course to south. Noon. Barometer 28.99. Temperature 55F.

1210. Wind shifted to WNW from northward in a heavy squall. (Force 10). Braced round to WNW. The shift of wind also affected the temperature of the air so much as to occasion it falling to 44F. . During the early part of the day we had a heavy cross sea making the ship labour very heavily making the Upper deck and even the sides leaking from one end to the other. The barometer immediately began to rise, the wind abating in force, during the evening.

29 October 1871

0730. Course ESE. 0900. Performed Divine Service. Wind westerly force 3 to 6.

1700. Out fourth and third reefs of Top sails and reef of courses. Barometer rising.

30 October 1871

Wind light and every appearance of fine weather. Out reefs. Up Top gallant masts and crossed them; set their sails. Bent on new set  of Topsails and Courses.

31 October 1871

0600.Wind light from NW and shifted to the northward. A large ship was standing to the SE. All plain sails and Top stud sails.

1700. In first reef of Topsails  and in Royals.

01 November 1871

Simon’s Bay to Fremantle calling at St Pauls Island. Latitude 40.23S Longitude 61.29E. Course S89E. Wind N by E force 4 becoming NNE force 4. Under sail. Barometer 30.45 inches. Maximum temperature 58F. Fine clear sky. Out reefs.

Watch employed as requisite. Sailmakers repairing Fore topsail.  Course E by S ½ S

02 November 1871

Latitude 40.00S. Longitude 64.57E. Course  N82E. Wind NNE force becoming N by E force 3.

Under sail. Fine weather. Under all plain sail save Mizzen royal. Barometer 30.48 inches which very high to what we had of late. The sea was remarkably smooth for the distance from land.

03 November 1871

Latitude 39.44S. Longitude 68.46E Course N80E. Wind NNE force 3 becoming NNW force 3.

Under Sail.  Exercised at General and Fire Quarters. Noon. Course E by S. had Lower and Top gallant stud sails set during the day.

2100. Exercised at night Quarters firing blank.

04 November 1871

Latitude 39.11S. Longitude 71.43E. Course N89E. Wind N force 4 becoming NNW force 3.Under sail.

Employed cleaning ship throughout.  Making an average of 160 nautical miles per day.

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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