01 May 1897

At single anchor in Aden Harbour. Wind calm becoming NE force 1 then SSE force 2 before returning to calm all with broken cloud. Barometer 29.91 inches rising to 29.97 at noon and finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. Midnight. HMS Minerva arrives.

0400. Raised steam in cutter. HMS Endymion arrives.
0815. Royal yacht arrives flying standard of King of Siam Dressed ship rainbow fashion. Fleet saluted with 21 guns which the yacht returned. HMS Flora arrives. Cleaning ship. Paid monthly money to Ship’s company and issued soap and tobacco. HMS Flora sailed. Special leave to starboard watch. Sent 2nd Range party. First Range party returned. HMS Endymion and HMS Minerva sailed.
1915. Fired royal salute on King going onboard. Undressed ship.
1930. Drew fires from cutter. Midnight. Siamese Yacht sailed. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Right elevation, deck plan and hull section as depicted in Brassey’s Naval Annual 1896

HMS Minerva

HMS Endymion

HMS Flora

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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