29 April 1900

At sea Gibraltar to Malta. Course S77E at 10.6 knots. Wind ESE force 2 with cloud and a smooth sea. Barometer 29.80 inches rising to 29.86 at 0800 and to 29.97 at noon and then falling to 29.95 at 1600 and to 29.85 at 2000. Before finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 66F. 0230. Sighted Cape Serrat light. 0415. Altered course to N80E. 0615. Fratelli Rock abeam

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-154624

The view shown is at dusk, looking westward along the Tunisian coast, west of Bizerta. The promontory on the horizon is Cape Serrat and that to the left probably the high ground behind Ras El Golea. Les Fratelli as they are called in the modern Admiralty “Mediterranean Pilot,” (Though more correctly “I Fratelli” – the brothers) , are two prominent rocks just over two miles NNE of  Ras El Golea.

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  1. Wind south force 2 to 3 with cloud. 0830. Altered course to S60E. 0930. Divisions and prayers. Read Articles of War. 1040. Cain Light House abeam. Put clock forward 6 minutes. Noon. Position 37.24N 1048E. Course S60E at 9 knots. Wind ESE force 3 to 4 with cloud. 1425. 1`515. Sighted Pantella Island to SE. 1522. Cape Bon abeam. 1600. Wind SE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Evening Quarters. 2000. Wind SE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. 2021. Altered course to S51E. Reduced to 92 Revolutions. 2200. Put clock on 7 minutes.

Coal expended 23 tons 1 cwt.  Number on sick list 4.

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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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