22 August 1871

Latitude 34.55S. Longitude 19.45E. Course West 12. Wind north easterly force 3 becoming WNW force 3. Under steam and sail. Barometer 30.20 inches. Cape of Good Hope N62W 71 nautical miles.

0800. Weighed and proceeded under steam. Wind east force 3.

1030 Cape Agulhas light House bore NE by N 5 miles. Shaped curse NW by W. swell from the westward.

Noon. Gunners Quoin N ½ W.

1315. Course NW by N.

1600. Danger Point NE by N.

1800. Cape Handklip N ¼ E. Course NNW. Observed Cape Light NNW.

2130. Overserved Roman Rock Light to north. Altered course to north.

2210. In Fore and Aft sails.

2300. Roman Rock Light N ½ W.

2340 Came to with sandy bottom in 10 fathoms and veered to 30 fathoms in Simons Bay. Bearings. Roman rocks light E by S ½ S. found here HM Ships RATTLESNAKE, ICARUS, GLASGOW and SERINGAPATAM.

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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