18 August 1872

Latitude 17.52S. Longitude 178.51E. Wind easterly force 2 with rain becoming SE by E force 5. Under sail. Barometer 30.06 inches. Maximum temperature 75F. Sea temperature 80F.

0345. Ovalau SE by S. 0800. Altered course to S by W ½ W for anchorage.

1300. Shortened and furled sails and commenced steaming.

1330. Weather so thick with rain. Headed off NW wind having freshened suddenly to force 5 with heavy rain making it difficult to approach the land; not being able to discern the reefs and every prospect of the weather lasting.

1420. Altered course to NNE ½ E. and made sail to double reefed Topsails, Courses and Top gallant sails. On Fore and main.

1530. Down Jib, in top gallant sails.

1715. Close reefed Topsails and reefed Courses.

1900. Altered course to NE ½ N. Weather thoroughly set in with heavy rain. Wind SE by E force 6 and squally with cloudy and threatening appearance. The barometer fell very little for at noon it showed 30.04 inches and at 1600 29.97 inches when it gradually rose. At midnight it read 30.05 inches.

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE