Plymouth to Gibraltar. Position at noon 39.45N 9.5W. Course South-westerly until 1800 and then south. Speed 10 knots until 1500 increasing to 10 at 1700. Wind NE force 8 reducing to 4 to 5 in the afternoon. Overcast and squally. Barometer 30.04 falling to 29.97 at 1600. Before slowly rising to 30.08 inches at midnight. Temperature 47F rising to 58F at 1600. Considerable swell. Noon distance 239.9 nautical miles. 0730 Altered course to S ¼ E. 0900 Mustered by division and read prayers. Employed as requisite. 1225 Cape Fariloes Rocks SE ¼ S. employed as requisite. 1530 Altered course to S by W ¾ W. Mustered at Quarters. Exercised at Fire Quarters. 1700 read Warrant No 2 and 3. 1745 Roca light abeam. Observed Cape Espichel Light SSE. 2008. Espichel Light abeam. Expended 24 tons and 10 cwt of coal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
