Moored in Colombo Harbour. Wind W force 2 to 4 with squalls. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and to 30.03 at midday before falling to 29.94 at 1600 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 642 lbs of bread. 0800. Marines at drill. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind west force 3 with broken cloud. Draught 14 feet forward. 15 feet 11 inches aft. 1300. His Excellency the Lt Governor of Ceylon embarked. In stream anchor. 1400. Weighed port anchor. 1500. Weighed starboard anchor. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 1535. Course S72W at 85 revolutions – 8.2 knots. Put P. log over the side. Connected hand wheel. 1700. Quarters. Exercised Fire Quarters. 2200. Exercised sea boat crews. 2300. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 12 tons. 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.
