20 March 1898

New log book started and ending on 12 September 1898. Engines rated as good. Twin screws rated as good. Coal capacity 316 tons. Mercurial barometer A489. Thermometers for air temperature N & L A4764 and A4767. Thermometers for sea temperature N & L A4329. Compass swung by Fritz Walser(?) and Lt Butler (Navigating Officer). Armament:

6 x 6 inch breech loaders on upper deck

8 x 3 pounder and Quick fire Hotchkiss on upper deck and mid deck.

2 x Nordenfelt guns on bridge.

1 x bow tube

2 x beam tubes

Draught with three months provisions. Forward 13 feet. Aft 15 feet 6 inches.

Moored to single buoy in Bombay Harbour. Wind NW force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.98 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and to 30.02 at noon before dropping to 29.94 at 1600 and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature a noon 85F. Sea temperature 79F. 0400. Received 202 lbs of soft bread. 0600. Landed church party. 0930. Divisions. Performed divine service. Noon. Gave Special Leave to port watch to 2200 and Boys until 1900. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

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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