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.

28 March 1872

Wind SW force 1 becoming south easterly force 2.

Surveying officers at Commonwealth Store MEGAIRA’s stores. Refitting ship.

29 March 1872

Wind west force 1 becoming ENE force 1 later calm the south force5. Barometer 30.22 inches . Maximum temperature 66F.

Good Friday. Performed Divine Service. Heavy rain.

30 March 1872

Wind south westerly force 3 becoming SW force 3.

Employed as Requisite.

31 March 1872

Wind south westerly force 2 becoming SSW force 2. Barometer 30.08  inches. maximum temperature 72F.

Sunday. Performed Divine Service

01 April 1872

At moorings in Farm Cove, Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia. Wind calm becoming easterly force 1. Maximum temperature78F.

Employed refitting, painting masts. Carpenters repairing rudder at Garden Island. Surveying officers surveying MEGAIRA’s stores. Refitting ship.

02 April 1872

Wind calm becoming south easterly force 2. Barometer 39.16 inches. Maximum temperature 70F. as the 1 April.

03 April 1872

Wind southerly force 2 decreasing to 1. Barometer 30.20 inches. As the 1 April.

 

04 April 1872

Wind westerly force 1 becoming calm with light airs. 1650. HMS Basilisk [HMS Basilisk was a Bloodhound-class gun-brig built by Randall in Rotherhithe and launched in 1801] arrived with the schooner PERI in tow.

05 April 1872

Wind south westerly force 1 becoming easterly force 1. Barometer 30.02 inches. Maximum temperature 80F.

Employed as most necessary

6 April 1872

Wind westerly force 1 becoming calm. Barometer 30.08 inches. Employed as most necessary

07 April 1872

Wind calm becoming south force 2. Barometer 30.20 inches.

Employed as most necessary.

08 April 1872

Wind westerly force 1 becoming north easterly force 2.

Employed coaling from steam collier – 120 tons. BLANCHE arrived from New Zealand.

09 April 1872

Wind westerly force 1 to 2. Becoming east force 1. Barometer 30.15  Inches.

Employed drawing provisions. Mail Steamer BANGOLORE arrived.

10 April 1872

Wind light and variable becoming south force 2.  Barometer 30.24 inches. Maximum temperature 69F.

Storing holds and watering ship.

11 April 1872

Wind southerly force 2 becoming SE force 3. Barometer 30.35 inches.

As requisite.

12 April 1872

Wind south westerly force 2 becoming SSE force 1.

Drawing stores and watering ship

1700. Bent sails.

13 April 1872

Wind calm becoming NNE force 2.

Cleaning ship throughout. A French Sloop of War arrived

14 April 1872

Wind south force 2. Barometer 30.23 inches. Maximum temperature 67F.

Performed Divine Service.

15 April 1872

Wind westerly force 1 becoming SE force 2. Barometer 30.32 inches.

Employed as requisite. Carpenters repairing rudder.

16 April 1872

Wind  westerly force 1 becoming south force 1. Maximum temperature 74F.

Shipped rudder.

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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