21 August 1871

Latitude 35.4E. Longitude 19.50E. Course S79W. Wind NW by N force 6 to 8 becoming NW force 4. Barometer 30.19 inches. Maximum temperature 59F.

0300. Agulhas light bore E by N ¾ N. Wind strong from NNW. Barometer 29.86 inches and steady. Wind freshening with heavy sea.

0900. Wore and stood  NNE. Wind NW by N force 6 to 8.

1200. Bore up for Strungs Bay. Shaped course ENE.

1230 Sighted land ahead.

1330 Agulhas Light House NE. . the lighthouse is 100 feet high and painted red and white; showing a white light with visibility of 18 nautical miles. Northumberland Point is low and sandy with scattered bushes. The  large store house with flagstaff was seen over the point.

1545. Stopped and came to with sandy bottom in 7 fathoms and veered to 42 fathoms. Down Top gallant masts. At anchor in Strungs Bay. Anchorage bearings Northumberland point S50W. White House S85W. Light airs from the northwards. This bay affords a good anchorage for vessels during westerly gales but to the southward of WSW it is not safe. As few fishermen live here the nearest town with a telegraph office s a t the distance of 30 miles. A boats crew of fishermen came off to the ship and said that they expected a  south easterly wind in a short time as it is generally sets in soon after the westerly winds fall light.

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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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