12 February 1870

At anchor with a north to NE / NNE wind force 2 increasing to 5at noon before decreasing to 1 at midnight. Barometer 29.98 inches. Temperature maximum 81 F.

0400. Draw fires forward.

0530 Weighed and proceeded under steam.

0900 Came to off Zanzibar with sandy bottom in 10 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Anchor bearings Minaret S87E. Flag staff / English S46E. Chornby 18W Employed cleaning throughout until

1600 when mustered by Divisions.

1630. Weighed under steam and proceeded to anchorage off Bubooboo. (Bububu?)

1730. Stopped and came to with sandy bottom in 9 fathoms and veered to42 fathoms. Anchor bearing cliff end SE by ½ S. N East Chappany S58W. Chango S87W.

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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