30 December 1889

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.12 at 1600 before finishing at 30.08 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0100. Let fires and raised steam in two boilers. Draught of water forward 14 feet 3 inches. Aft 15 feet 9 inches.

0400. Steam up in cutter. Received 112lbs of fresh beef and 56 lbs of vegetables.
0730 HMS Turquoise relieved the Guard.  German cruiser Schwalbe arrived.
0750. Weighed and proceeded to the northward. Course as required increasing to 7 knots.
0900. HMS Turquoise made signal of Recall. Proceeded for Zanzibar.
1010. Stopped and communicated with TURQUOISE by boat..
1050. Proceeded to starboard to assistance of French sloop Bouret uposted ashore. Course as requisite. Position at noon. 6.17S 39.10E. Speed 8.2 knots.
1300. Employed variously.
1520. Observed French sloop Bouret ashore on reef off Ras Makunduchi. (Its coordinates are 6°22’60” S and 39°34’60” E in DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) or -6.38333 and 39.5833 (in decimal degrees). Its UTM position is EN69 and its Joint Operation Graphics reference is SB37-11.)
1620. Stopped and communicate with boat from Bouret.
1715. Mustered at Quarters. Washed clothes.
1730. Proceeded steering as requisite.
1830. Stopped and came to in Kizimkazi Patch in 10 ½ fathoms and veered to 4 shackles. Anchorage bearings Ras Kizimkazi S74W Ras Makunduchi N20E magnetic. 

2000. Exercised electric search light.
2230. Exercised at General Quarters.

Coal expended 13 tons 8 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

Anchor crest

Receive our newsletters?