Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Bar0meter 29.98 rising to 30.04 at noon before falling to 30.02 at 1600 and finishing at 30.04 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 465 lbs of bread. 0300. Prepared for sea. 0700. Weighed Port stream anchor. Rove ships (?) (Hand writing been written over) Draught 13 feet 10 inches forward. 15 feet 10 inches aft. 0800. Divisions and prayers. 0830. Shortened to 1 ¾ shackles. 1000. Weighed. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 10.30. Worked up for full speed trial. Put over P. Log. 1035. Course S14W. Put clock on 4 minutes. 1122. Commenced full speed trial. 5.5 knots. Connected hand steering wheel. Altered course to S12E. Noon. Position 643N 19.48E. Wind south force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and a slight swell from the SW. 1325. D (?) Lighthouse abeam. (Hand writing difficult to read). 1345. Worked up for 4 knots full power trial. 1410. Commenced full power trial. 11.4 knots. Untrained men and boys at aiming (?) (Next word has faded). 1440. Altered course to S39E. 1540. Altered course to S69E at 13 knots. 1700. Altered course to S89E at10.8 knots. Quarters. Exercised General Quarters. 1750. Altered course to N72E. 18 10. Finished trial. Reduced to ¾ horse power. 1900. Altered course to N75E at 4 knots increasing to 11 knots. 1600. Watch man and arm ship. 2200. Exercised Night quarters. 2230. Altered course to NE. exercised sea boat crews. Exercised close all watertight doors. Coal expended 32 tons 1 cwt. Remaining coal stock 188 Tons 12 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.
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.
