22 February 1898

At anchor off Bushire. Wind East force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. Later becoming north-westerly force 1. Barometer 30.17 inches rising to 3020 at 0800 and 30.25 at noon before finishing at 30.21 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 64F.  0400. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 220 lbs of soft bread. 0610. HMS Sphinx arrived and anchored.

HMS Sphinx (1882) was a composite paddle vessel launched in 1882 and sold in 1919.

  1. Divisions and prayers. Marines at rifle exercise. Remaining hands as requisite. 1145. Dressed ship with Masthead flags. Persian flag at main. Noon. Wind NW force 1. 1400. Discharged Lt. C. G. R. Brandon to HMS Sphinx. Joined ship from HMS Sphinx Lt F. G. P. Brandon. Raised steam in number 1 boiler. Spread fires in number 4 boiler. 1500. Preparing ship for sea. Received provisions from HMS Sphinx. 1630. Weighed and proceeded. 1720. HMS Sphinx proceeded in to inner anchorage. 1845. Shaped course to S14E. Put over Patent log. Increased to 85 revolutions. 1900. Quarters. Connected hand wheel. 2200. Stopped. Cast deep sea lead – 27 fathoms. 2215. Proceeded. 2330. Stopped. Cast deep sea lead – 30 fathoms. 2350 Proceeded. Midnight. Wind SW force 1. Coal expended 9 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.
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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.

Anchor crest

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