20 February 1898

At sea. Course N20W at 7.7 knots. Wind NW force 4 becoming force 6 at 0400 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.18 inches increasing to 30.22 at 0800 before dropping to 30.15 at 1600 and remaining at 30.15 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 66F.  005. Increased to 80 revolutions. 0125. Stopped. Sounded in 35 fathoms. Proceeded. 0310. Eased to 75 revolutions. Eased to batten down forward. 0330. Stopped. Sounded in 28 fathoms. 0345. Eased to 70 revolutions. 0500. Stopped. Sounded in 35 fathoms. 0645. Eased to 63 revolutions. Divisions. Performed Divine Service. 0710. Altered course to N11W. 0800. Eased to 59 revolutions. 0900. Eased to 54 revolutions. 1000. Eased to 50 revolutions. 1100. Eased to 41 revolutions. Noon. Position 28.48N. 50.45E. Wind NE force 6. Squalls and mist. 1355. Altered course to N16 ½ W at 3 knots.  1510 Altered course as requisite for anchorage. Engines as requisite. 1540 Came to on broken bottom in 4 ¾ fathoms and veered to 4 shackles. Anchored off Bushire in the Arabian Gulf.

Bushehr or Bushire, also known as Bandar Bushehr, previously Beh Ardasher, Antiochia in Persis and Bukht Ardashir, is the capital city of Bushehr Province, Iran

Anchorage bearings. Large town N72E. Mosque. S52E Res. Flag staff. N77E. 1900. Quarters. Let fires die out in number 1 boiler. Banked fires in number 4. Distilling with number 3. Coal expended 12 tons 2 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

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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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