24 November 1897

At sea. Bombay to Trincomalee. Course S15E at 8 knots with slight sea. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.05 inches falling to 30.02 at noon and to 30.01 at 1600 before rising to 30.07 at 2000 and where it finished at midnight.  Temperature at noon 89F. 0005. Altered course to S10E. 0100. Lost sight of Cochin Light NNE.

The Vypin Lighthouse or Cochin Lighthouse[2] is situated at Puthuvype in Kochi, Kerala. Even though the current lighthouse started functioning only by 15 November 1979, the Cochin Lighthouse has a long history. The lighthouse which was functioning in Fort Kochi from 1839 was shifted to Puthuvype in 1979. It is the tallest lighthouse in Kerala.

  1. Alippi Light S6 ½ S. Stopped and sounded in 14 fathoms. Proceeded. 0145. Altered course south. 0245. Aleppi abeam. Sounded in 14 fathoms. 0300. Exercised Sea boat crews and close watertight doors. 0400. Sounded in 21 fathoms. 0618. Altered course to N49E. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Exercised Small Arms Companies. 1107. Altered course to S30E. Noon. Position 8.32 ¾ N. 76.46 ½ E. wind light airs. 1400. Watch employed as requisite. 1525. Altered course to S54E. 1600. Multun (?) Light N87E. Magnetic. 1700. Quarters. Exercised Hands man and arm ship. Repeated evolution. 1725. Multun (?) Light abeam. 1746. Sunset by standard compass S71W. 1940. Lost sight of Multun (?) Light. 2200. Exercised sea boat crews. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 22 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 11.
https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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

Receive our newsletters?