At single anchor off Kilifi. Wind calm with broken cloud. Position at noon 3.12S 40.20E. Barometer 29.84 rising to 29.92 inches at noon before falling to 29.82 at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F. 0545. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour. Steaming and steering as requisite. Steam cutter and whaler to assist at entrance to harbour. 0700. Shaped course to NE by E 1/2E. 0800 speed y knots. Wind NE force 1. 0850 Stopped to board dhow. 0925 proceeded. 0900. Mustered at Divisions. Read prayers. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Employed painting ship and as requisite. Noon. Light airs. 1230 altered course to SW by S at 3.8 knots. 1350. Altered course to SW 1/2W. 1400 Struck soundings in 87 fathoms decreasing rapidly to 5 ½ fathoms. Sent boat to sound ESE. 1500. At anchor. 1515 Weighed and proceeded E by S ½ S at slow. 1600 Wind SE force 2 to 3. Altered course to SSE. 2 to 3 knots. 1715. Mustered at Quarters and inspected clean hammocks. Observed a dhow ahead and fired a gun to bring her to. Boarded. 1830 Proceeded slow at 2 knots on course SE.20.30 Altered course to South. 2100. Lost by fouling one hand lead and line of 20 fathoms. Midnight. Altered course to West.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
