18 June 1872

0600 Weighed under steam for Nanuku Passage. Wind northerly force 2 becoming NW force 2. Maximum temperature 84F. Made sail as requisite.

0800. Gora Island S55 W. South Point Taveuni north.

0830. Shaped course NE by E.

100. Sounded in 61 fathoms.

1430. Passed close to the assigned position of rock marked “dangerous” on chart 2691 and saw no sign of it. The chart appears very incorrect for several bearings placed her 6 or 12 miles out in some cases. On sighting Nanuka Island it showed two islands – the southern appearing to be the largest.

1600. Cap Island south ; Naitamba S66E.

1650. Course NE. 1715. Course NE by N.

1735. Course NNE.. Strong current setting to southward through Nanuka Passage..

1745.Sighted the northern most island on the eastern side.

1800. Nanuka Island W by N ½ N. passed through passage.

2200. Stopped steaming and made sail. Course NE.

Midnight. wind SSW force 4. The Island of Nanuka appeared to be laid down towards the eastward and the reef off Yalangalala more to the northward.

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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