03 March 1872

Steaming up D’Entrecsteaux Channel.

1900 anchored in Apollo Bay. Wind south easterly force 4 becoming ENE force 3. Barometer 30.37 inches . maximum temperature 59F.

0200. Wind hauled round to SW and southward force 5 to 6. In first and second reefs of Top sails. Barometer 30.14 inches and rising.

0500. Altered course to ENE.

0600. Out reefs and made to Top gallant sails.

0610. Sighted Menstone rock NNE 8⁰.

0620 Up steam under both boilers.

0845. Sighted South Cape NE.

0900 commenced steaming. Shortened and furled sails. Set fore and aft sails.

1035. Sighted the Eddystone rock E by S. Course NE by E.

1200. In fore and aft sails.

1300. Sighted Bruny Island Lighthouse N16E. Course N by E.

1430 Altered course for D’Entrecsteaux Channel. .

1500. Lighthouse Bruny Island N64E.

1600. North end of Partridge Island NE.

1850. Stopped and anchored in Apollo Bay in 9 ½ fathoms with sandy bottom. Veered to 2 shackles.

Midnight. Wind although not too fresh followed us around to SE, NE and was then light from the NNE.

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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