17 April 1900

Moored alongside HMS Himalaya at Devonport. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.40 inches rising to 30.42 at 0800 before falling to 30.40 at 1600 and then rising to 30.45 at 2000 and finishing at 30.48 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 56F. 0600. Cleaning ship. Boys at physical drill. 0800. Wind west force 1 Lit fires in two boilers. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 0915 Read stations for Man and Arm ship. 0955. Manned all boats. Noon. Wind west force 2 with broken cloud.1230. Slipped and proceeded with tugs to basin pool. 1330. Made fast to buoy. Preparing for sea. 1400. Let fires die out in one boiler. 1600. Wind NNW force 3 with broken cloud. 1630. Evening Quarters. 1700. Discharged one signalman to HMS Janus.

HMS Janus was the lead ship of the Janus-class destroyers which served with the Royal Navy. She was launched by Palmers in 1895, served on the Chinese station for much of her career and was sold off in 1912.

Received 500 lbs of beef and 250 lbs of vegetables. Coal expended 3 tons 10 cwt. 251 tons 9 cwt remaining. 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.

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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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