At sea. Trincomalee to Colombo. Midnight Course SSW at 3 knots with slight sea. Wind northerly force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.14 0400 before falling 30.04 at 2000 and finishing at 30.06 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0020. Altered course to SW by W. 0130. Eased and sounded in 100 fathoms. Proceeded. 0145. Altered course to WSW. 0230. Sighted G Passes. 0245. Altered course to S72W. Exercised sea boats crews and exercised close watertight doors. 0600. Altered course to west (?) (Difficult to read). 0700. Experienced heavy squalls from west with rain. 0730. Altered course to W by SW (?). 0740. Ran into thick fog. 0745. Eased to 40 revolutions. Altered course to W by S. 0800. Wind W by SW force 3 to 7. 0940. Altered course to west. 0945. Fog cleared. 0950. Increased to 95 revolutions – 7 knots. 1010. Altered course to W by SW. 1050. Altered course NW. 1100. Increased to 3/5 power – 106 revolutions – 10.8 knots. 1145. Altered course to NW by N. Noon. Wind NW force 3 to 7 with broken cloud and squalls with passing showers. Position 6.24N. 80.17E. 1255. Altered course to NW by (?). Galle abeam. Lost overboard by accident – patent log, cherub and line. 1345. Altered course to N20W. Passed French cruiser SURPRISE. 1545. Altered course to N by W (?). 1620. (?) abeam (Pencilled hand writing very difficult to read). Preparing to coming to. Connected steam winch. Colombo light N by E. Altered course to N by W. 1915. Altered course as requisite for the harbour. Speed as requisite – 45 revolutions. 1945. Stopped and embarked pilot. Proceeded into harbour in charge of pilot. 2010. Came to in pebbles and sand in 5 ½ fathoms. Secured stern to buoy – two shackles. 2300. Let fires die out. Coal expended 19 tons 13 cwt. Number on sick list 7.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
