20 September 1941

Attack on Gibraltar by three Italian human torpedoes launched from the Italian submarine SCIRE (Cdr Count Borghese) at 0100 21 September. Searched for submarines with HEYTHROP. One source has this as 20 August 1941.

According to Sea War 1939 – 1945 page 168 they sunk the British tanker FIONA 2,444 gross tons, the DENBYDAE 8,145 gross tons and caused considerable damage to the motor ship DURHAM 10,893 gross tons. The three torpedoed crews succeeding in reaching Spanish territory.

Admiralty Communiqué issued 23 September 1941: During an attack on the harbour at Gibraltar last Saturday an old ship’s hull was sunk. Any further claims by the Italians must be regarded as incorrect.

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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