Pemba Bay to Zanzibar. Course N by W ½ W at 5.5 knots. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.98 inches rising to 30.02 at 0800 before falling to 29.87 at 1600 and finishing at 29.87 at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0245. Observed land on the port bow. 0300. Altered course to N by E. 0315. Sounded in 100 fathoms, 0400. Altered course to N ½ W. 0430. Altered course to north. 0645. Altered course to N by W ½ W at 6.5 knots. 0930. Observed Zanzibar Island on starboard bow. Mustered by Divisions and performed Divine service. 1145. Altered course to NNW. Position at noon 6.29S 39.19E. 1415. Made number to HMS Gannet in Zanzibar Harbour. 1450. Stopped and came to in 10 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Anchorage bearings. Clock tower N56E. Chango Island N10W magnetic. 1600. Let fires die out in three boilers. Distilling with one boiler. Found here HMS Gannet. HMS Stork. French cruiser D’Estang, sloops Beautemps-Beaupre’ and Bouret. German cruisers Schwalbe and Spuber. Draught of water forward 11 feet 3 inchs. Aft 14 feet 10 inches. Coal expended 12 tons 12 cwt. Coal remaining 10 tons 16 cwt. Number on sick list 10.
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.
