16 March 1897

At single anchor off Mirbat. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.23 at 0800 before falling to 30.02 at 16000 and finishing at 30.18 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 82F. 0200. Distilling. 0400. Prepared for sea. Raised steam in two boilers. 0510. Shortened in. 0530. Received one ????? (Unable to read handwriting)   from shore. Proceeded as requisite. 0540. S89W at 70 revolutions. R.I.M.N Lawrence in company.0550. Put P log over. 0730. Routine.  0900. Divisions and prayers. 0930. Hauled in P log.  0940. Decreased to 40 revolutions.  Unable read handwriting but RIMN Lawrence anchored. Course and speed as requisite for closing Salala 1050. Came to in 6 ¾ fathoms and veered to 3 ½ shackles off Salala. Employed as requisite.

Salalah is the capital city of southern Oman’s Dhofar province. It’s known for its banana plantations, Arabian Sea beaches and waters teeming with sea life. The Khareef, an annual monsoon, transforms the desert terrain into a lush, green landscape and creates seasonal waterfalls

  1. Let fires die out in three boilers. 1200. Wind south force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. Drought 14 feet forward. 15 feet 9 inches aft. Anchor bearings. Ras Sakar S59W. Flag N. ????N4E. Draught forward 14 feet. Aft 15 feet 9 inches. 1400. Employed as requisite. 1600. Exercised firing torpedoes. 1700. Quarters. Discharged for Army to shore. 2200. Distilling. Midnight Banked fires in Number 4 boiler. Coal expended 7 tons 14 cwt. Number on sick list 1.
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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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