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 November 1871

At single anchor in Gage Roads. Wind west force 4 becoming westerly force 4. Barometer 30.16 inches.  Cleaning ship.

1345. Cargo boat came for MARARA’s stores. Sent Upper Deck cargo ashore.

26 November 1871

Wind West force 2. Barometer 30.07 inches.

Performed Divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel.

27 November 1871

Wind WSW force 2 becoming south westerly force 2. Barometer 30.21 inches.

Employed setting up fore rigging, rattling down lower Topmast rigging. Hauled up first cutter on boathouse slip at pier 9South)

28 November 1871

Wind East force 2 becoming SSW force 2. Maximum temperature 75F. Employed blacking down and refitting as requisite.

1400. Gig capsized whilst going ashore under sail and gybing. Picked up men and boat.

29 November 1871

Wind WSW force 1 becoming NE force 2 and then Westerly force 1.

Cleaning ship. Out boom boats

30 November 1871

Wind  WNW force to becoming westerly force 2 then SSW force 3. Barometer 30.18 inches.

Sent launch ashore to water from watering jetty.

01 December 1871

Wind SW force 2 becoming south westerly force 2. Maximum temperature 72F.

Exercised at General Quarters. Hauled pinnace up on boat slip for refit.

02 December 1871

Wind NW 2 becoming SSW force 4.

Received 6 tons of water. Cleaning ship.

03 December 1871

Wind NW 2 becoming SSW force 4. Barometer 30.16 inches.

Performed Divine Service.

04 December 1871

Wind southerly force 2 becoming SSW force 4. Barometer 30.26 inches.

Crossed upper yards and loosed sails to dry.

05 December 1871

Wind light and variable becoming SSW force 2.

As most requisite

06 December 1871

1700. Fremantle to Georgraphe Bay. Latitude 33.22S. Longitude 115E. Wind south force 1 becoming SW force 3. Under steam. Barometer 29.98 inches.

The water from shore not being good commenced condensing.. Employed preparing for sea.

1730. Weighed and proceeded under steam through southern passage.

2000. Rottnest Light N ½ W. 0830 Shaped course SW ½ W.

07 December 1871

Course S20W. Single anchor off Busselton. Wind south westerly force 3 becoming SSW force 2.

0900 Exercised at General Quarters. Sounded in 30 fathoms (Sand).

1320. Altered course to SE Set Fore and Aft sails.

1420. Course ESE.

1515. Stopped and came to with broken bottom in 5 fathoms off Busselton  Veered to 3 shackles.  Anchorage bearings. Cape  Naturalist N 67 W. Bean at Brusselton S12E

08 December 1871

2000. Geographe Bay to Fremantle. Wind SW force 1 increasing to 2. Barometer 30.14 inches.

 

Remarks

Found on sounding towards the shore that the water shoaled very gradually and that we might have anchored about a mile off. The mark is very conspicuous as it shows against the trees and is situated a few yards to the left of the pier. The timber station situated to the west of Brusselton could not be made out on our coming in as it is situated quiet in the Bight of the Bay and would, I thin…

2000. Geographe Bay to Fremantle. Wind SW force 1 increasing to 2. Barometer 30.14 inches.

 

Remarks

Found on sounding towards the shore that the water shoaled very gradually and that we might have anchored about a mile off. The mark is very conspicuous as it shows against the trees and is situated a few yards to the left of the pier. The timber station situated to the west of Brusselton could not be made out on our coming in as it is situated quiet in the Bight of the Bay and would, I think, only be seen by vessels coming in  round Cape Naturalist. To the eastward of our anchorage was another timber station and pier about 3 miles from Brusselton – off which the barque BRIDGETOWN was  at anchor. Our observations were correct by the chart but the position of Cape naturalist appeared to be 2 miles to the southward of its position as shown. On our way back to Fremantle we caught a glimpse of the Bunbay Fixed light at the distance of about 15 nautical miles.

Exercised firing at target.

1755. Weighed and picked up target.

1915. Governor Wild of Western Australia came onboard. Saluted him with 17 guns.

1930 Proceeded. Shaped course N by E. Set Topsails. Top gallant sails and Froe sail.

2330. Sounded in 20 fathoms – sand. Stopped.

09 December 1871

Single anchor in Georg Roads. Wind S force 2 becoming SSW force 3. Strong southerly wind.

Daybreak. Land on starboard bow.

0520. Proceeded under steam. Wind falling light to the eastward.

0620. Sighted Rottnest Light House N by E,

0800. Passed through South passage.

100. Stopped and came to in 5 fathoms with broken bottom and veered to 36 fathoms. Manned yards on Governor Wild leaving the ship. Anchorage bearings Arthurs Head Light House N 62E. Strugglers Rocks N 87 W.

10 December 1871

Wind SW force 3 to 4 becoming SSW force 4.

Performed Divine Service. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel.

11 December 1871

Wind south force 3 becoming SSW force 4 and SSE force 3 later. Barometer 30.24 inches.

Exercised at making and shortening sails. Shifting Topsails and Courses.

12 December 1871

Light and variable airs becoming southerly force 2.

Employed as most requisite

13 December 1871

Wind ENE 3 becoming SSW force 1 to 2. Barometer 30.14 inches. Maximum temperature 75F.

Employed as most requisite.

14 December 1871

Calm becoming SW force 3. Barometer 30.02.

0615. P & O Mail steamer  NUBIA arrived from Galle for coal.. Boats away firing at targets.

2320. SS NUBIA sailed having coaled.

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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