25 February 1897

At single anchor standing off RMS Orotava Reef. 12.5N 43.3E.

Wind SE by S force 5 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.15 inches steady until 1600 when reading 30.09 and finishing at midnight at 30.13 inches. Temperature at noon 79F sea temperature 72F.

0645. Shortened in.
0650 Weighed and proceeded slow both. Course as requisite for closing Orotava.
0700 Lowered Seaboat for sounding.
0725. Stopped. Anchored in 5 fathoms with pebbles.
0730. Anchorage bearing Orotava N86W. Rahaita Bluff S9E. Sent Seaboat away sounding.
0740. Weighed course as requisite for closing to Oratava.
0810. Came to in 5 ½ fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 7 shackles.. Anchorage Orotava N79W Rahaita Bluff S14E.magnetic.Sent boats with hawser to Orotava.
0950. Veered to 11 shackles. 100. Hauled in and secured 5 inch wire from Orotava to starboard towing bollard.
1130 Shortened in to 10 shackles. Noon. Position 12.52N 23.3E Wind SE by E force 5 to 6 with broken cloud and squalls.
1300. Shortened in to 9 shackles.
1415. Let go SA under fort. Orotava’s stern S86W Rahaita Bluff S12E. Coal expended 8 tons 18 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

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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