24 February 1897

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind east force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.18 rising to 30.27 at noon before falling to 30.12 at 15000 and finishing at midnight at 30.13 inches. Temperature at noon. 80F. 0001. Preparing for sea. Lit fires in 1 and 2 boilers. 0400. Draught of water forward 14 feet 6 inches. Aft 15 feet 9 inches. 0515. Shortened in to 1 ½ shackles. 0610. Weighed and proceed as requisite out of harbour. 0615. Put over P Log. Increased to full speed – 109 revolutions 12 knots.  0640. Course S75W. 0658. Stopped starboard engine. 0730. Proceeded at full speed with both engines.  0930. Mustered at Divisions and read prayers. Marines marching Order Parade.1130. Change course to S64W. 1140. Put clock back 10 minutes. Noon. Position 12.21 ½ N 45.48E. Wind Se force 3.  1230. Altered course to N24W. 1245. Altered course to N48W. 1330. Altered course to N24W. 1415.  Course and speed as required for entering Peruin (?) (Unable to read handwriting) Harbour. Came to in 6 fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 3 shackles. 1530. Shortened in. 1535. Weighed. Proceeded out of harbour 1553. 109 revolutions. 1551. Put P Log over the side. 1604. Shaped to N34W. 1740 Sighted RMS Orotava aground flying distress signals. Altered course as requisite for closing. 1812. Eased to slow. Sounded in 8 fathoms 1824. Came to in 8 fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 5 shackles. OROTAVA bearing S52W. Sent seaboat to her. 2150. Seaboat returned and hoisted inboard. Coal expended 23 tons 19 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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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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