07 May 1869

Latitude 39.22S Longitude 30.41E. Cape Natal bearing N2E 568 miles. Course South Easterly changing to Easterly. Wind Northerly Force 6 to 9. Barometer 29.41 inches dropping to 29.10 inches over 15 hours then rising to 29.40 inches at Mid night. Temperature 71F dropping to 68F. Maximum sped through the water 7 knots.

0010. In second reef of fore and main topsails. Down Jib. In third reef of Mizzen topsail. Down royal yards. In third reef of Fore top sail. Furled Mizzen topsail. Down Top gallant yards.

0415 Reefed Mainsail; on preventer, braced.

0545 Up Courses. In third reef of Main top sail. In fourth reef of Fore topsail. Set Fore staysail. Down Flying Jib staysail.

0715 Wind shifted suddenly to NW. Squared yards and furled Courses.

1315. Braced forward on Port tack.

1350. Course ESE.

1400 Heavy squall from North accompanied by rain.

1515 Course East.

1630 Down Top gallant masts. Close reefed main top sails.

2015 Course E by S.

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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