09 October 1889

Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course W by S ¾ S. Wind west force 2 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 20.19 inches rising to 30.25 at noon before falling to 30.10 at 1600 and finishing at 30.26 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F.0500. Altered course to NW ½ W. 0520. Connected third boiler and increased to 85 revolutions. 0615 Observed island NW by W. 0630. Altered course to NW by W. 0730. Altered course to WNW. 0830. Increased to 90 revolutions. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Small arms companies at rifle drill.  Course as requisite for anchorage off Zanzibar. 1000. Passed French cruiser D’Estaing.

 

The Lapérouse class was a type of barbette cruisers of the French Navy, with wooden hull and iron beams. These ships had plough bows with a forecastle, a displacement of 2,363 tons, a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and had a complement of 264 sailors. Armament was fifteen 140 mm (5.5 in) M1870M guns later replaced in Primauget with quick-firing conversions. Each ship also had eight 1-pounder revolvers

Employed as requisite. 1120. Stopped and came to off Zandy’s (?) Island in 18 fathoms and veered to 2 ½ shackles. Banked fires. Noon. French cruiser anchored. Anchorage bearings.  Signal station 377E. Piers Zandy’s(?) Island N36E. 1300. Employed as requisite. Ordinary Seamen at signal instruction. 1600. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour steering as requisite. 1700 Mustered at Quarters. 1800. Shaped to N ¾ W. 2130. Connected 4th boiler and commenced quarterly passage trial at 12 knots. Coal expended 25 tons 18 cwt. Number on sick list.11. 

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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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