Trincomalee to Colombo. Course S51W at 8.7 knots with moderate sea. Wind SW force 3 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 30.09 at noon before dropping to 29.94 at 1600 and finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0200. Great Da— (?) abeam. Altered course to S69W. Exercised sea boats crews and close watertight doors. 0300. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 0345. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 0430. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 0515. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 0600. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 0800. #wind increased to force 5 with squalls. Altered course to N86W at 8.8 knots. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 0930. Altered course to N81W and increased revolutions to 95 – 9 – 10 knots. 1050. D—- (?) House abeam. Handwriting difficult to read. Noon. Position5.51N 80.25E at 10 knots. Wind force 5 to 7 with squalls. Colombo N20W at 74 nautical miles. 1300. Altered course to N60W.1400. Point de Galle Lighthouse abeam. Set jib and trysail. 1410. Altered course to N54W. 1417. 1455. Fore Top mast carried away. Eased to clear wreckage. 1510. Proceeded at 95 revolutions. 1517. Altered course to N22W. 1700. Quarters. 17.45. Darbery(?) light abeam. 1900. Sighted Colombo Light. In trysail.200. Altered course as requisite for harbour. 2135. Came to 7 fathoms in Colombo harbour and veered to 2 shackles. Banked fires in number 3 and 4 boilers. Let fires die out in number 1 boiler. Coal expended 24 tons 7 cwt. Number on sick list 4.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
