Plymouth to Gibraltar. Position at noon. 36.21N 7.42W. Course SE to SE by E ¼ S. speed 10 knots increasing to 11. Wind east force 4 reducing to 2 in the afternoon. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.01 rising to 30 10 inches at noon before falling to 30.04 at 1600 then rising again to 30.10 at midnight. Temperature 60F falling to 48F. Slight swell to a comfortable swell. Noon distance 242 miles. 0230. Observed Cape Vincent on port beam. 0350 Rounding Cape Vincent. 0430. Cape St Vincent abeam Shaped course to SE ½ S. 0900. Mustered by Division and read prayers. 0930. Altered course to SE by E. 1000. Lit fires in fourth boiler. Increased to 90 revolutions. Exercised at General Quarters. Man and clean ship etc. 1230. Altered course to SE by E. 1220.connected 4th boiler and increased revolutions to 95. Made and mended clothes. 1545. Observed land on port bow. 1600 Mustered at Quarters. Exercised Watch – “out collision mat”. 1700 observed land on Starboard bow. Altered course to SE by E ¼ S.1745. Observed Cape Trafalgar Light on port beam. 2000. Course as requisite through the Straits. 2300. Stopped and came to off New Mole Gibraltar with sandy bottom in 10 fathoms. Veered to 3 ½ shackles. Banked fires in 2 boilers. Let 2 boilers die out. Found here HMS GRAPPLER. Coal expended 25 tons 9 cwt. 7 crew on sick list.
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.
