06 December 1870

Under steam and sail. Wind NE force 4 becoming ENE force 2. Barometer 29.98 inches to 30.08 inches. Maximum temperature 86F. Latitude  by Jupiter 6.40 Scourse to W by N ½ N. Latitude by Canopus 6.32S.

0404. Course W by S. A strong current setting to the north and west.

0545. Sighted land bearing between NW by W and NW. Wind falling to light. Lit fires under starboard boiler.

0600 Set Top gallant sails and altered course to WNW.

0700 Commenced steaming.

0720. Committed the  remains of the late Josiah Neville to the deep.

0735. Proceeded. Shortened sail and furled them.

0800. Cape Hizimkas (?)  9 miles.

0900. Exercised at General Quarters firing shot and shell at target.

1005. Proceeded. 100. Set headsails. Sailmakers making forecastle awning.

1300. Course north.

1710. Arrived of Zanzibar. Let go  on broken bottom in 9 ¾ fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Saluted the Sultan with 21 guns which were returned by flagship. Anchorage bearing  Shangang Point S1/2 E – South end of Barry Island W by N ¼ N.

The Sultan (Burgath) who is at present on the throne has lately come to it by the death of his brother who was the Sultan here on our last visit but in very poor health. The new man seems to object to the treaties about the slave, but only after having been placed partly by the help of the Consuls and the public but has now taken a line for the present for himself

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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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